SynthesisEuropean radiology2009
The value of postmortem computed tomography as an alternative for autopsy in trauma victims: a systematic review.
Synthesis in European radiology, 2009. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 39 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
39 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 149 citations in OpenAlex.
- Sensitivity and specificity of post-mortem computed tomography in skull fracture detection-a systematic review and meta-analysis.International journal of legal medicine · 2022Pooled it
- Postmortem imaging findings and cause of death determination compared with autopsy: a systematic review of diagnostic test accuracy and meta-analysis.International journal of legal medicine · 2020Pooled it
- From 3D Surface Documentation to Visualization in Forensic Practice: A Review of Current Methods and Emerging Technologies.APMIS : acta pathologica, microbiologica, et immunologica Scandinavica · 2026Review
- Postmortem CT and autopsy findings in an elevator-related death: a case report.Forensic science, medicine, and pathology · 2025Article
- Reliability of Antemortem CT Scan Findings as an Adjunct to Autopsy in Visualizing Intracranial Hemorrhage.Cureus · 2025Article
- Identification of gunshot entry wounds using hyperdense rim sign on post-mortem computed tomography.International journal of legal medicine · 2025Article
- [Blunt force trauma in forensic radiology].Radiologie (Heidelberg, Germany) · 2024Review
- Performance of postmortem CT in the diagnosis of natural death from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.Japanese journal of radiology · 2024Article
- Postmortem computed tomography plus forensic autopsy for determining the cause of death in child fatalities.Pediatric radiology · 2022Article
- Characteristics of Prehospital Death in Trauma Victims.Journal of clinical medicine · 2021Article
- Postmortem Computed Tomography in Firearm Homicides: A Retrospective Case Series.Journal of forensic sciences · 2020Article
- Added value of post-mortem computed tomography (PMCT) to clinical findings for cause of death determination in adult "natural deaths".International journal of legal medicine · 2020Article
- Questionnaire study on the utility of autopsy case conferences related to emergency medicine practices.Medicine · 2019Article
- Post-mortem computed tomography improves completeness of the trauma registry: a single institution experience.Emergency radiology · 2019Article
- Virtual Autopsy as a Screening Test Before Traditional Autopsy: The Verona Experience on 25 Cases.Journal of pathology informatics · 2018Article
- Post-mortem computed tomography angiography using left ventricle cardiac puncture: A whole-body, angiographic approach.PloS one · 2017Article
- Article
- Post-mortem CT: Hounsfield unit profiles obtained in the lungs with respect to the cause of death assessment.International journal of legal medicine · 2017Article
- Evaluation of post-mortem lateral cerebral ventricle changes using sequential scans during post-mortem computed tomography.International journal of legal medicine · 2016Article
- Search and removal of radioactive seeds: another application of postmortem computed tomography prior to autopsy.International journal of legal medicine · 2016Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess the role of postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) as an alternative for autopsy in determining the cause of death and the identification of specific injuries in trauma victims. A systematic review was performed by searching the EMBASE and MEDLINE databases. Articles were eligible if they reported both PMCT as well as autopsy findings and included more than one trauma victim. Two reviewers independently assessed the eligibility and quality of the articles. The outcomes were described in terms of the percentage agreement on causes of death and amount of injuries detected. The data extraction and analysis were performed together. Fifteen studies were included describing 244 victims. The median sample size was 13 (range 5-52). The percentage agreement on the cause of death between PMCT and autopsy varied between 46 and 100%. The overall amount of injuries detected on CT ranged from 53 to 100% compared with autopsy. Several studies suggested that PMCT was capable of identifying injuries not detected during normal autopsy. This systematic review provides inconsistent evidence as to whether PMCT is a reliable alternative for autopsy in trauma victims. PMCT has promising features in postmortem examination suggesting PMCT is a good alternative for a refused autopsy or a good adjunct to autopsy because it detects extra injuries overseen during autopsies. To examine the value of PMCT in trauma victims there is a need for well-designed and larger prospective studies.
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Registered trials
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