FORENSIC MEDICINE
The death of the autopsy?
UK study raises the issue of dissection 'virtual' corpses
MILAN - the autopsy "virtopsia", the step is short now. Indeed, thanks to new developments in imaging techniques, one of the oldest branches of medicine looks set to put in the attic once and for all its most "bloody" becomes the art of virtual dissection of corpses? The Department of Forensic Medicine of the East Midlands, University of Leicester in England, I believe. The manager, Guy Rutty, and his team published in the International Journal of Legal Medicine, a study on the use of coronary angiography and Tac "multi" to make the 'autopsy of the heart and coronary arteries. In
body a contrast medium is injected through a catheter inserted in the carotid artery and run the diagnostic test. The techniques used by Professor Rutty on 25 cadavers, after obtaining the consent of family members, thereby providing an outline of the intervention protocol "Simple, quick, minimally invasive and effective in terms of costs." ACT has produced images that can display not only the lumen (ie the interior) but also the vessel wall, which is useful for quantifying the presence and thickness of calcification for example. The UK study has therefore identified a methodology. The evaluation of the results against traditional autopsy is instead postponed to further work in progress.
results discussed - I mean, the fate of dissection is marked? "A method as described in the study at the University of Leicester can help but not replace all the normal question - answered Matturro George, director of the Institute of Pathology, University of Milan ¬ -. The study aims to highlight the vascular tree, ie, the coronary arteries of the heart, in a fairly comprehensive, but can not replace the traditional anatomic-pathologic investigation. This is for several reasons: the first is that it brings out the nature of the alteration of coronary artery walls, beyond any calcifications and thrombus. Also bear in mind that most of the fatal consequences depend on changes in the electrical box of our hearts, the cardiac conduction system, and this method can not highlight it. "
APPLICATIONS-How useful can have then? "Somehow can try to address the shortage of personnel or knowledge of pathological - adds Matturro -. Today the experience of the anatomy against the pathologist diagnostic feedback has weakened the organization is affected, then try in every way to address these shortcomings by using methods that can help in some way but they can certainly deepen . Unfortunately, autopsies if they are less and less. The pathologic anatomy has lost its appeal and here in Italy has become a sort of branch of the laboratory for which the pathologist no longer has either the preparation than once, nor the habit of examining the human body and therefore must resort to these methods. "
In Leicester, however, do not give up and want to continue to study their methods on 200 more cases, "We are incredibly excited about the potential of this new research ¬ - says Guy Rutty -. The technique could be the beginning of a change in the practice of autopsies in England, making it decrease the number, and could be used in other centers around the world. "
ONLINE COURSE FOR MEDICAL LEGAL - The University of East Meadlands, among others, has put together a course for aspiring forensic scientists since 2001, with exercises and tests on cadavers strictly interactive. Just go to the website of the Department of Forensic Medicine. The authors loaded eighteen cases clinical post-mortem work on. For each, you can trace the history of the patient describes the symptoms that the patient has experienced at the time of hospitalization, medical therapy administered until the time of death and discomfort he suffered in the past. To complete the "medical records" are available online also reports of the tests they are going to turn the victim was subjected during his hospitalization. Once considered the all you can begin to perform the dissection and inspection of tissues and internal organs of the body. You can also read the results of anatomical examinations Histological and accompanied by pictures. When you feel ready, just click on the "Cause of death" and try to give an answer on this list. If it is not the right one, explains why.
PROJECT virtopsy - University of Zurich, the virtual autopsy has already reached a very advanced stage. The team of Michael Such, director of the Institute of Legal Medicine, has set up the project "virtopsy" (and has developed a machine dubbed "Virtobot." The new technology uses a combination of angiography, biopsy, CT scan and MRI, to get in an hour and a half details of any or skeletal damage to the brain, "reading" within the blood vessels and tracing the appropriate path of a bullet in the body. By using a special high-definition video camera, a system for magnetic resonance imaging and a dedicated software Virtobot "stores" a human body, making a 3D copy to your computer to be analyzed. The system seems promising. Have already been made a hundred scans and in eighty percent of cases, experts from Zurich were able to determine the exact cause of death.
Ruggiero Corcoran
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