TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2022//
TI  - Post-mortem computer tomography in ten cases of death while diving: a retrospective evaluation
JO  - Radiologia medica, La
A1  - Giaconi, Claudia
A1  - Manetti, Alice Chiara
A1  - Turco, Sara
A1  - Coppola, Marzia
A1  - Forni, David
A1  - Marra, Damiano
A1  - La Russa, Raffaele
A1  - Karaboue, Michele
A1  - Maiese, Aniello
A1  - Papi, Luigi
A1  - Turillazzi, Emanuela
A1  - Neri, Emanuele
A1  - Di Paolo, Marco
SP  - ePub
EP  - ePub
VL  - ePub
IS  - ePub
N2  - Self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA) diving deaths have always been a challenge for forensic pathologists. Post-mortem computer tomography (PMCT) allows intracorporeal gas visualization, contributing to identify the cases in which the cause of death is arterial gas embolism (AGE). However, in the literature, it is indicated to perform the radiological examination within 24 h after death.     Materials and methods    In this retrospective study, 32 cases of death who had undergone PMCT 24-48 h after death/corpse finding between January 2011 and March 2021 were analyzed, including ten cases of SCUBA divers who died of AGE. All cases' radiological images were reviewed to localize the intracorporeal gas distribution alongside other findings that are usually related to SCUBA diving death. A semi-quantitative evaluation was also performed.     Results    Most of the divers showed gas within the left heart and the arteries. In addition, the semi-quantitative evaluation revealed that the divers presented a higher mean amount of intraarterial gas compared to the fresh corpses. On the other hand, the putrefied corpses presented gas within the portal system and generalized subcutaneous emphysema with higher frequency and quantity than the divers and fresh corpses.     Conclusion    Our cases suggested that the PMCT, even when performed 24-48 h after death, remains a valuable tool to diagnose AGE in cases of SCUBA diving deaths. In addition, with the limit of the small sample size, our data showed that at least a medium quantity of intraarterial gas, when not associated with a high amount of gas within the portal system and subcutaneous emphysema, could be considered a diagnostic criterion of AGE.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0033-8362
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11547-022-01448-x
ID  - ref1
ER  -