Post-mortem examination of human fetuses: a comparison of whole-body high-field MRI at 9·4 T with conventional MRI and invasive autopsy

Thayyil, Sudhin; Cleary, Jon O.; Sebire, Neil J.; Scott, R. K.; Chong, Kling; Gunny, R; Owens, Cátherine M.; Olsen, Øystein E.; Offiah, A.C.; Parks, H.G.; Chitty, Lyn S.; Price, Anthony N.; Yousry, Tarek; Robertson, Nicola J.; Lythgoe, Mark F.; Taylor, Andrew M.

doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(09)60913-2

Cited by 133 publications

(124 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Other authors (21) conclude that only by using a 9.4T MRI fetal cardiac structures could be visualized irrespective of GA, but herein they showed that the main cardiac structures can be identified on 3T MRI in fetuses beyond 14weeks. Moreover, this technique allows examination of the fetal heart in situ, where connections with other structures are maintained and can easily be assessed (22).…”

Section: Considerations Specific To Perinatal Pathologymentioning

confidence: 53%

The future of pediatric and perinatal postmortem imaging

et al. 2015

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The field and applications of post-mortem imaging are exponentially growing. Its potential to identify the cause of death in trauma and ballistic cases is now properly documented, as well as its use in drug mules identification. In pediatric and perinatal practice, large significant series are less available, except for MRI and central nervous system analysis where scientific evidence is now robust. In this review, after a short historical review and analysis of current problems and challenges, we will try to depict the way we see the future of this sub-specialty of post-mortem cross sectional, including in the scope all specific situations : terminations of pregnancy, intrauterine death, sudden unexpected infant death, and identification issues.

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Section: Considerations Specific To Perinatal Pathologymentioning

confidence: 53%

The future of pediatric and perinatal postmortem imaging

et al. 2015

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“…27 The PMCT and PM MRI (PMMR) balance is different in children for reasons relating to size and the types of relevant pathology suspected. 28 However, new roles are being discovered for MRI, for example MRI spectroscopy of the brain, which has been shown to correlate to time from death. 29 Other changes to the body that may occur after death, such as cooling, will also change the appearance of PMMR and need to be considered.…”

Section: Traumatic Death and Identificationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adult post-mortem imaging in traumatic and cardiorespiratory death and its relation to clinical radiological imaging

Morgan¹,

Adlam²,

Robinson³

et al. 2014

BJR

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The use of post-mortem imaging is expanding throughout the world with increasing use of advanced imaging techniques, such as contrast-enhanced CT and MRI. The questions asked of post-mortem imaging are complex and can be very different, for example for natural sudden death investigation will focus on the cause, whereas for trauma the cause of death is often clear, but injury patterns may be very revealing in investigating the background to the incident. Postmortem imaging is different to clinical imaging regarding both the appearance of pathology and the information required, but there is much to learn from many years of clinical research in the use of these techniques. Furthermore, it is possible that post-mortem imaging research could be used not only for investigating the cause of death but also as a model to conduct clinically relevant research. This article reviews challenges to the development of post-mortem imaging for trauma, identification and cardiorespiratory death, and how they may be influenced by current clinical thinking and practice.

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“…This methodology allows good image acquisition in most foetuses beyond 20 weeks of gestation, but due to technical issues regarding the size of the ROI results in suboptimal resolution of anatomical detail in foetuses in the earlier second trimester (Thayyil et al, 2009b). MRI at high-field strengths (9.4 T) remains at present a research technique but has opened an avenue of 'virtual microscopy' in animal models, with resolutions of up to 20 µm being achieved in some cases (Fatterpekar et al, 2002).…”

Section: Difficulties Imaging Small Foetuses: High-field Mrimentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In a recent small pilot study of the technique, structural defects identified at autopsy could be detected by high-field MR imaging (9.4 T), whereas conventional (1.5 T) MR imaging was non-diagnostic in most of the cases of foetuses delivered at <20 weeks of gestation. Good images could be obtained even in foetuses as small as 5 g. High-field MR imaging may therefore in future allow adequate structural examination of even very small foetuses and may allow highly specific diagnosis of organ changes in full term foetuses and newborn infants (Thayyil et al, 2009b; Figure 3). The main current limitation of this technique is that such high-field scanners are currently available only in few tertiary research centres in the UK and require special expertise.…”

Section: Difficulties Imaging Small Foetuses: High-field Mrimentioning

confidence: 99%

Minimally invasive fetal postmortem examination using magnetic resonance imaging and computerised tomography: current evidence and practical issues

et al. 2010

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For a variety of reasons, acceptance of traditional postmortem examination following foetal or neonatal death has declined significantly in recent years in the UK. Here, we review the case for the development of less invasive autopsy using combined investigations including imaging techniques, in particular, magnetic resonance imaging and computerised tomography. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Post-mortem examination of human fetuses: a comparison of whole-body high-field MRI at 9·4 T with conventional MRI and invasive autopsy

Cited by 133 publications

References 27 publications

The future of pediatric and perinatal postmortem imaging

The future of pediatric and perinatal postmortem imaging

Adult post-mortem imaging in traumatic and cardiorespiratory death and its relation to clinical radiological imaging

Minimally invasive fetal postmortem examination using magnetic resonance imaging and computerised tomography: current evidence and practical issues

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