Evidence map›Paper›PMID 30972495›Full record

ArticleInternational journal of legal medicine2019

Approaching pulmonary fat embolism on postmortem computed tomography.

Vasiliki Chatzaraki, Jakob Heimer, Michael J Thali, Garyfalia Ampanozi, Wolf Schweitzer

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in International journal of legal medicine, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
0.9field-weighted citation impact, top 26% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 13 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Cadaver clots: a systematic review of the literature.Forensic science, medicine, and pathology · 2025
    Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Review
  4. Article
  5. Fat Embolism, Fat Embolism Syndrome and the Autopsy.Academic forensic pathology · 2019
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Vasiliki ChatzarakiDepartment of Forensic Medicine and Imaging, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190/52, CH-8057, Zurich, Switzerland. vasiliki.chatzaraki@irm.uzh.ch.
Jakob HeimerDepartment of Forensic Medicine and Imaging, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190/52, CH-8057, Zurich, Switzerland.
Michael J ThaliDepartment of Forensic Medicine and Imaging, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190/52, CH-8057, Zurich, Switzerland.
Garyfalia AmpanoziDepartment of Forensic Medicine and Imaging, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190/52, CH-8057, Zurich, Switzerland.
Wolf SchweitzerDepartment of Forensic Medicine and Imaging, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190/52, CH-8057, Zurich, Switzerland.
University of Zurich · CH

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposePulmonary fat embolism (PFE) is a relevant diagnosis playing a role as a sign of vitality or a cause of death. Its severity is assessed according to histological grading systems like that of Falzi. The aim of this study was to determine the utility of unenhanced postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) for PFE diagnosis based on the detection of fat layers.

methodsConsecutive cases with PMCT and autopsy were studied retrospectively. The case group consisted of cases with positive PFE, and the control group included cases with negative PFE. Three observers independently assessed PMCT data for fat layers in the pulmonary trunk and the right and left pulmonary artery. For cases with fat layers, autopsy protocols were assessed for the cause of death, relation to trauma, and undertaken resuscitation measures.

resultsEight hundred thirty cases were included: 366 PFE positive cases (144 of Falzi grade 1, 63 of 1.5, 99 of 2, 28 of 2.5, and 32 of 3) and 464 PFE negative cases. Interrater reliabilities varied between substantial and almost perfect, and discrepancies were solved according to majority. Eighteen cases showed fat layers on PMCT (2 controls-traumatic instantaneous deaths-, 16 PFE positive cases). PMCT showed low sensitivity but high specificity for PFE diagnosis. The layers were located at the same position in the pulmonary trunk directly adjacent to the pulmonary valve distal to the right ventricle.

conclusionFat layer on PMCT is a rare finding but relates to PFE diagnosis, especially of severe histological grade. It is to be expected in a typical position within the pulmonary trunk.

Indexed as

Tomography, X-Ray ComputedCase-Control StudiesEmbolism, FatFemaleForensic PathologyHumansMaleMiddle AgedPredictive Value of TestsPulmonary ArteryPulmonary EmbolismRetrospective StudiesSensitivity and SpecificityAutopsyFalziForensic imagingPostmortem computed tomographyPulmonary fat embolismVirtopsy

Identifiers

PMID30972495
OpenAlexW2938859610

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.