Diffusion-weighted perinatal postmortem magnetic resonance imaging as a marker of postmortem interval

作者：Arthurs Owen J^*; Price Gemma C; Carmichael David W; Jones Rod; Norman Wendy; Taylor Andrew M; Sebire Neil J

来源：European Radiology, 2015, 25(5): 1399-1406.

DOI：10.1007/s00330-014-3525-y

• Autopsy
• Postmortem
• MRI
• Diffusion
• Paediatric
• Perinatal

To evaluate perinatal body organ apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values at postmortem magnetic resonance imaging (PMMR) in order to evaluate postmortem changes.
Postmortem diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) of the thorax and abdomen were performed with diffusion gradient values b = 0, 500, and 1000 s/mm(2) on 15 foetal and childhood cases (mean 33.3 +/- 7.8 weeks gestation) compared to 44 live infants (mean age 75.5 +/- 53.4 days). Mean ADC values were calculated from regions of interest (ROIs) for the lungs, liver, spleen and renal cortex, compared to normative live infantile body ADC values of similar gestational age.
Mean ADC values were significantly lower in postmortem cases than in normal controls for liver (0.88 10(-3) mm(2)/s +/- SD 0.39 vs. 1.13 +/- 0.13; p < 0.05) and renal cortex (0.85 +/- 0.26 vs. 1.19 +/- 0.13; p < 0.05) but not spleen or muscle. Mean lung ADC values were significantly higher than normal controls (1.06 +/- 0.18 vs. 0 +/- 0; p < 0.001), and there was a significant correlation between postmortem interval and lung ADC (R-2 = 0.55).
Lung PMMR ADC values are related to postmortem interval, making them a potential marker of time since death. Further research is needed to understand the organ-specific changes which occur in the postmortem period.
aEuro cent Liver and spleen PM ADC values were lower than controls.
aEuro cent Lung ADC changes correlate with PM interval.
aEuro cent These findings may be useful in medicolegal cases.

• 出版日期2015-3