Virtual autopsy using imaging: bridging radiologic and forensic sciences. A review of the Virtopsy and similar projects

Abstract

The transdisciplinary research project Virtopsy is dedicated to implementing modern imaging techniques into forensic medicine and pathology in order to augment current examination techniques or even to offer alternative methods. Our project relies on three pillars: threedimensional (3D) surface scanning for the documentation of body surfaces, and both multislice computed tomography (MSCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to visualise the internal body. Three-dimensional surface scanning has delivered remarkable results in the past in the 3D documentation of patterned injuries and of objects of forensic interest as well as whole crime scenes. Imaging of the interior of corpses is performed using MSCT and/or MRI. MRI, in addition, is also well suited to the examination of surviving victims of assault, especially choking, and helps visualise internal injuries not seen at external examination of the victim. Apart from the accuracy and threedimensionality that conventional documentations lack, these techniques allow for the re-examination of the corpse and the crime scene even decades later, after burial of the corpse and liberation of the crime scene. We believe that this virtual, non-invasive or minimally invasive approach will improve forensic medicine in the near future.

The Veterinary Forensic Necropsy

“…9,41,42 With modern digital imaging techniques of whatever kind, the images can be securely stored locally or by use of a central storage facility and can be retrieved and viewed at a later date, even after disposal of the cadaver. 11 Postprocessing techniques are investigator independent and objective and accessible for audit. 82 A copy of the images can be submitted via portable data storage or central files can be accessed, and in court, the images can be viewed as hard copies or via a computer connected to a large screen.…”

The Importance Of Virtopsy In The Forensic Autopsy

“…Bu, virtopsi projesinin başlangıcıdır. Daha sonra başka yöntemler ve araçlar ÇKBT ve MRG yöntemlerine ilave edilmiş ve böylece projede her türlü gö-rüntüleme, uygulamaya konulmuştur (7,8,9 (8,9). Ayrıca BT anjiyografi ile; tüm dü-zeylerde aortun diseksiyon veya anevrizma yönünden değerlen-dirilmesi, renal arter patolojilerin, koroner anjiyografinin, intraserebral karotid düzeye kadar karotis ve alt ekstremite arterlerin anevrizma-diseksiyonun, aterosklerotik darlıkların, parankimal organlarda arteriyel ve venöz fazların değerlendiril-mesi, özellikle karaciğerde trifazik incelemeler gibi birçok uygulamaya olanak vermiştir (10).…”

“…Ayrıca, yabancı cisimler üç boyutlu olarak vücut içinde topografik komşulukları gösterebildiğinden otopside uygun bir şekilde çıkartılmalarını hızlandırabilir. Yivli silah yaralarında merminin tespiti ve çı-karılma işleminin radyografik kontrol altında yapılması vücut-tan merminin hasar görmeden çıkarılmasını sağlamaktadır (4,5,8,12).…”

“…Böylece, bir cismin üç boyutlu yüzeyi hesaplanabilmektedir. İlgilenilen cismin yüzey işaretleyicileri (markers) referans alınarak değişik açılardan dijital fotoğrafı çekilip TRITOP bilgisayar yazılımı kullanılarak siyah ve beyaz olan üç boyutlu yüzey renklendirilmektedir (8).…”

Development and validation of a postmortem radiological alteration index: the RA-Index

“…Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) is the most often used technique [1], and is more preferred than MRI for a number of reasons, including the rapid examination, relatively easy handling, and lower cost. Furthermore, the spatial resolution and high sensitivity of MDCT allow the detection of small collections of gas in bodies [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11], including quantities smaller than those that can be detected using standard autopsy techniques.…”