Diagnosis of the Death from Hypothermia on Postmortem Imaging

Background: Diagnosis of fatal hypothermia is challenging by autopsy approach alone. Aims and Objectives: To explore the features of fatal hypothermia on postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) and study their diagnostic value in such cases. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted o...

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Main Authors: Wenjing Gao, Wenju Jin, Jiahui He, Sunao Li, Long Fu, Zhiyuan Xia, Haibin Shen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2024-12-01
Series:Journal of Forensic Science and Medicine
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Online Access:https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jfsm.jfsm_152_24
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author Wenjing Gao
Wenju Jin
Jiahui He
Sunao Li
Long Fu
Zhiyuan Xia
Haibin Shen
author_facet Wenjing Gao
Wenju Jin
Jiahui He
Sunao Li
Long Fu
Zhiyuan Xia
Haibin Shen
author_sort Wenjing Gao
collection DOAJ
description Background: Diagnosis of fatal hypothermia is challenging by autopsy approach alone. Aims and Objectives: To explore the features of fatal hypothermia on postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) and study their diagnostic value in such cases. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on the imaging data of three cases of low-temperature death. The study compared the images of lung tissue in the control group and used statistical tools to analyze typical changes associated with low-temperature death. The potential applications of cadaveric imaging in these cases were also discussed. Results: The typical postmortem imaging manifestations of death from hypothermia include increased volume of bilateral lung tissue, decreased density of bilateral lung tissue, and absence of pulmonary hypostasis. By comparison, it has been proven that PMCT can quickly detect typical changes in postmortem imaging of death from hypothermia. After applying PMCT, combined with the results of postmortem imaging, physical and chemical, and the environmental condition of the scene, in the absence of individual deaths because of other reasons, it can be determined that the individual died from hypothermia. Conclusions: The case of the death from hypothermia is a tough issue in forensic pathology examination. Through this review, it was found that the death from hypothermia cases have typical postmortem imaging. After combining the case, on-site investigation, and toxicology testing, we found the PMCT can solve the case of the death from hypothermia.
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institution Kabale University
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2455-0094
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publisher Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
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spelling doaj-art-46a153063bc94e15b50a9ebebcbc3f282025-01-11T10:18:40ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsJournal of Forensic Science and Medicine2349-50142455-00942024-12-0110428328810.4103/jfsm.jfsm_152_24Diagnosis of the Death from Hypothermia on Postmortem ImagingWenjing GaoWenju JinJiahui HeSunao LiLong FuZhiyuan XiaHaibin ShenBackground: Diagnosis of fatal hypothermia is challenging by autopsy approach alone. Aims and Objectives: To explore the features of fatal hypothermia on postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) and study their diagnostic value in such cases. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on the imaging data of three cases of low-temperature death. The study compared the images of lung tissue in the control group and used statistical tools to analyze typical changes associated with low-temperature death. The potential applications of cadaveric imaging in these cases were also discussed. Results: The typical postmortem imaging manifestations of death from hypothermia include increased volume of bilateral lung tissue, decreased density of bilateral lung tissue, and absence of pulmonary hypostasis. By comparison, it has been proven that PMCT can quickly detect typical changes in postmortem imaging of death from hypothermia. After applying PMCT, combined with the results of postmortem imaging, physical and chemical, and the environmental condition of the scene, in the absence of individual deaths because of other reasons, it can be determined that the individual died from hypothermia. Conclusions: The case of the death from hypothermia is a tough issue in forensic pathology examination. Through this review, it was found that the death from hypothermia cases have typical postmortem imaging. After combining the case, on-site investigation, and toxicology testing, we found the PMCT can solve the case of the death from hypothermia.https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jfsm.jfsm_152_24death from hypothermiaforensic pathologypostmortem computed tomographypostmortem imagingvirtopsy
spellingShingle Wenjing Gao
Wenju Jin
Jiahui He
Sunao Li
Long Fu
Zhiyuan Xia
Haibin Shen
Diagnosis of the Death from Hypothermia on Postmortem Imaging
Journal of Forensic Science and Medicine
death from hypothermia
forensic pathology
postmortem computed tomography
postmortem imaging
virtopsy
title Diagnosis of the Death from Hypothermia on Postmortem Imaging
title_full Diagnosis of the Death from Hypothermia on Postmortem Imaging
title_fullStr Diagnosis of the Death from Hypothermia on Postmortem Imaging
title_full_unstemmed Diagnosis of the Death from Hypothermia on Postmortem Imaging
title_short Diagnosis of the Death from Hypothermia on Postmortem Imaging
title_sort diagnosis of the death from hypothermia on postmortem imaging
topic death from hypothermia
forensic pathology
postmortem computed tomography
postmortem imaging
virtopsy
url https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jfsm.jfsm_152_24
work_keys_str_mv AT wenjinggao diagnosisofthedeathfromhypothermiaonpostmortemimaging
AT wenjujin diagnosisofthedeathfromhypothermiaonpostmortemimaging
AT jiahuihe diagnosisofthedeathfromhypothermiaonpostmortemimaging
AT sunaoli diagnosisofthedeathfromhypothermiaonpostmortemimaging
AT longfu diagnosisofthedeathfromhypothermiaonpostmortemimaging
AT zhiyuanxia diagnosisofthedeathfromhypothermiaonpostmortemimaging
AT haibinshen diagnosisofthedeathfromhypothermiaonpostmortemimaging