Citation

Decker LA, Hatch GM, Lathrop SL, Nolte KB. J. Forensic Sci. 2018; 63(5): 1401-1405.

Affiliation

New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator, MSC07 4040, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, American Society for Testing and Materials, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/1556-4029.13760

PMID

29464693

Abstract

We explored the value of postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) to augment autopsy in evaluating strangulation fatalities. A literature search identified 16 studies describing autopsy findings in 576 deaths and two studies describing autopsy and PMCT findings in six deaths. Similar cases were identified from our institution, yielding 130 deaths with autopsy findings and 14 deaths with both autopsy and PMCT findings. The presence of laryngohyoid fracture and soft tissue hemorrhage was compared from autopsy and autopsy+PMCT cases. The detection rates of fractures in autopsy and autopsy+PMCT cases were not significantly different. PMCT identified all fractures observed at autopsy and five fractures not identified. While PMCT may not detect soft tissue injuries in decomposed remains or subtle internal hemorrhages in neck injury, it is equally able to detect bony injuries as autopsy and might surpass autopsy in detecting subtle fractures. We conclude PMCT is useful to supplement autopsy in strangulation cases.

© 2018 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

Language: en

Keywords

autopsy; cricoid cartilage; forensic science; fractures; hyoid; postmortem computed tomography; soft tissue hemorrhage; strangulation; thyroid cartilage