Postmortem computed tomography findings in suicide victims.

Details

Serval ID
serval:BIB_3B3C13A30425
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Publication sub-type
Review (review): journal as complete as possible of one specific subject, written based on exhaustive analyses from published work.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Postmortem computed tomography findings in suicide victims.
Journal
Diagnostic and interventional imaging
Author(s)
Garetier M., Deloire L., Dédouit F., Dumousset E., Saccardy C., Ben Salem D.
ISSN
2211-5684 (Electronic)
ISSN-L
2211-5684
Publication state
Published
Issued date
02/2017
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
98
Number
2
Pages
101-112
Language
english
Notes
Publication types: Journal Article ; Review
Publication Status: ppublish
Abstract
Suicide is the eighth cause of mortality in France and the leading cause in people aged between 25 and 34 years. The most common methods of suicide are hanging, self-poisoning with medicines and firearms. Postmortem computed tomography (CT) is a useful adjunct to autopsy to confirm suicide and exclude other causes of death. At autopsy, fractures of the hyoid bone or thyroid cartilage, or both, are found in more than 50% of suicidal hangings. Cervical vertebra fractures are rare and only seen in suicide victims jumping from a great height. Three-dimensional reconstructions from CT data are useful to visualize the ligature mark on the neck. In suicides by firearm, postmortem CT shows entry and exit wounds, parenchymal lesions along the bullet path, as well as projectiles in case of penetrating trauma. However, in the chest and abdomen it is more difficult to identify the path of the projectile. Postmortem CT also shows specific features of suicide by drowning or stabbing, but its use is limited in cases of self-poisoning. The use of postmortem CT is also limited by decomposition and change of body position. This article presents the imaging features seen on postmortem CT according to the method of suicide.

Keywords
Asphyxia/diagnostic imaging, Autopsy/methods, Drowning/diagnostic imaging, Forensic Pathology, Gastrointestinal Contents/diagnostic imaging, Humans, Lung/diagnostic imaging, Neck Injuries/diagnostic imaging, Poisoning/diagnostic imaging, Suicide, Tomography, X-Ray Computed, Wounds, Gunshot/diagnostic imaging, Wounds, Stab/diagnostic imaging, Drowning, Gunshot, Hanging, Postmortem computed tomography, Suicide imaging
Pubmed
Web of science
Open Access
Yes
Create date
19/10/2016 8:24
Last modification date
20/08/2019 14:31
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