Investigation of the role of computed tomography as an adjunct to autopsy in the evaluation of stillbirth

Typeset version

 

TY  - JOUR
  - O'Donoghue, K,O'Regan, KN,Sheridan, CP,O'Connor, OJ,Benson, J,McWilliams, S,Moore, N,Murphy, MJ,Chopra, R,Higgins, JR,Maher, MM
  - 2012
  - January
  - European Journal of Radiology
  - Investigation of the role of computed tomography as an adjunct to autopsy in the evaluation of stillbirth
  - Validated
  - ()
  - Fetus Autopsy Computed tomography Stillbirth VIRTUAL AUTOPSY FETAL VIRTOPSY MRI MSCT PATHOLOGY
  - 81
  - 1667
  - 1675
  - Introduction: The number of parents agreeing to autopsy following stillbirth is declining, which has undermined clinicians' ability to assess causes of intrauterine death and can impact counselling regarding recurrence. Post-mortem radiological imaging is a potential alternative method of investigating perinatal loss. The aim of this study was to assess the role of multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) in the investigation of stillbirth.Study design: Following ethical approval and written consent, parents were offered MDCT of the stillborn infant. MDCT was performed with 3D reconstruction, and images were analysed for image quality, anthropomorphic measurements and pathologic findings. Body part and organ-specific measurements were performed; including head, chest and abdominal circumferences, and muscle and liver mass was also measured. Findings were correlated with obstetric history, post-mortem skeletal survey (plain radiography), and formal autopsy.Results: Fourteen third-trimester stillborn infants were scanned. Image quality was moderate to excellent for most body structures. CT was better than plain radiography for imaging skeletal structures and large solid organs and demonstrated a range of pathologies including renal vein thrombosis, mesenteric calcification and skeletal hyperostosis that were not seen on plain radiographs. MDCT did not overlook autopsy findings and provided some additional information.Conclusion: This study confirms the feasibility of MDCT in the investigation of third trimester stillbirth. MDCT image quality is acceptable and the examination can demonstrate a range of anatomic and pathologic findings. Initially, its value may be as an important adjunct to conventional autopsy. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
  - DOI 10.1016/j.ejrad.2011.03.093
DA  - 2012/01
ER  - 
@article{V160746992,
   = {O'Donoghue,  K and O'Regan,  KN and Sheridan,  CP and O'Connor,  OJ and Benson,  J and McWilliams,  S and Moore,  N and Murphy,  MJ and Chopra,  R and Higgins,  JR and Maher,  MM },
   = {2012},
   = {January},
   = {European Journal of Radiology},
   = {Investigation of the role of computed tomography as an adjunct to autopsy in the evaluation of stillbirth},
   = {Validated},
   = {()},
   = {Fetus Autopsy Computed tomography Stillbirth VIRTUAL AUTOPSY FETAL VIRTOPSY MRI MSCT PATHOLOGY},
   = {81},
  pages = {1667--1675},
   = {{Introduction: The number of parents agreeing to autopsy following stillbirth is declining, which has undermined clinicians' ability to assess causes of intrauterine death and can impact counselling regarding recurrence. Post-mortem radiological imaging is a potential alternative method of investigating perinatal loss. The aim of this study was to assess the role of multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) in the investigation of stillbirth.Study design: Following ethical approval and written consent, parents were offered MDCT of the stillborn infant. MDCT was performed with 3D reconstruction, and images were analysed for image quality, anthropomorphic measurements and pathologic findings. Body part and organ-specific measurements were performed; including head, chest and abdominal circumferences, and muscle and liver mass was also measured. Findings were correlated with obstetric history, post-mortem skeletal survey (plain radiography), and formal autopsy.Results: Fourteen third-trimester stillborn infants were scanned. Image quality was moderate to excellent for most body structures. CT was better than plain radiography for imaging skeletal structures and large solid organs and demonstrated a range of pathologies including renal vein thrombosis, mesenteric calcification and skeletal hyperostosis that were not seen on plain radiographs. MDCT did not overlook autopsy findings and provided some additional information.Conclusion: This study confirms the feasibility of MDCT in the investigation of third trimester stillbirth. MDCT image quality is acceptable and the examination can demonstrate a range of anatomic and pathologic findings. Initially, its value may be as an important adjunct to conventional autopsy. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.}},
   = {DOI 10.1016/j.ejrad.2011.03.093},
  source = {IRIS}
}
AUTHORSO'Donoghue, K,O'Regan, KN,Sheridan, CP,O'Connor, OJ,Benson, J,McWilliams, S,Moore, N,Murphy, MJ,Chopra, R,Higgins, JR,Maher, MM
YEAR2012
MONTHJanuary
JOURNAL_CODEEuropean Journal of Radiology
TITLEInvestigation of the role of computed tomography as an adjunct to autopsy in the evaluation of stillbirth
STATUSValidated
TIMES_CITED()
SEARCH_KEYWORDFetus Autopsy Computed tomography Stillbirth VIRTUAL AUTOPSY FETAL VIRTOPSY MRI MSCT PATHOLOGY
VOLUME81
ISSUE
START_PAGE1667
END_PAGE1675
ABSTRACTIntroduction: The number of parents agreeing to autopsy following stillbirth is declining, which has undermined clinicians' ability to assess causes of intrauterine death and can impact counselling regarding recurrence. Post-mortem radiological imaging is a potential alternative method of investigating perinatal loss. The aim of this study was to assess the role of multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) in the investigation of stillbirth.Study design: Following ethical approval and written consent, parents were offered MDCT of the stillborn infant. MDCT was performed with 3D reconstruction, and images were analysed for image quality, anthropomorphic measurements and pathologic findings. Body part and organ-specific measurements were performed; including head, chest and abdominal circumferences, and muscle and liver mass was also measured. Findings were correlated with obstetric history, post-mortem skeletal survey (plain radiography), and formal autopsy.Results: Fourteen third-trimester stillborn infants were scanned. Image quality was moderate to excellent for most body structures. CT was better than plain radiography for imaging skeletal structures and large solid organs and demonstrated a range of pathologies including renal vein thrombosis, mesenteric calcification and skeletal hyperostosis that were not seen on plain radiographs. MDCT did not overlook autopsy findings and provided some additional information.Conclusion: This study confirms the feasibility of MDCT in the investigation of third trimester stillbirth. MDCT image quality is acceptable and the examination can demonstrate a range of anatomic and pathologic findings. Initially, its value may be as an important adjunct to conventional autopsy. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
PUBLISHER_LOCATION
ISBN_ISSN
EDITION
URL
DOI_LINKDOI 10.1016/j.ejrad.2011.03.093
FUNDING_BODY
GRANT_DETAILS