L. Patriquin et al., Postmortem whole-body magnetic resonance imaging as an adjunct to autopsy:Preliminary clinical experience, J MAGN R I, 13(2), 2001, pp. 277-287
The purpose of this study was to evaluate whole-body magnetic resonance ima
ging (MRI) of cadavers as an adjunct to autopsy. Eight consecutive patients
underwent both whole-body MRI and autopsy [either conventional (six), limi
ted (one), or percutaneous (one)] within 24 hours of death. Comparison was
made of major and minor abnormalities and predicted cause of death recorded
by independent readers at both MRI and autopsy. Major discrepancies betwee
n the recorded primary cause of death at imaging and autopsy occurred In fi
ve (5) patients. These included a myocardial infarction found at autopsy al
one, bowel infarction and portal venous gas found at MRI alone, and aortic
dissection and occipital Infarct found at MRI alone in a patient on whom on
ly limited autopsy was performed. Postmortem MRI may represent a useful adj
unct to autopsy, particularly in patients In whom autopsy is limited due to
patient/family consent, inoculation risks, and ethnic doctrines. (C) 2001
Wiley-Liss, Inc.