TY - JOUR
T1 - Pneumomediastinum and soft tissue emphysema in pediatric hanging
AU - Sieswerda-Hoogendoorn, Tessa
AU - Strik, Anne S.
AU - Hilgersom, Nick F. J.
AU - Soerdjbalie-Maikoe, Vidija
AU - van Rijn, Rick R.
PY - 2014
Y1 - 2014
N2 - Postmortem computed tomography (CT) is increasingly being used as a tool in forensic pathology. The exact value of postmortem imaging in detecting specific conditions has not yet been established, but in specific cases, it can be used as a diagnostic tool demonstrating findings that remain undetected during autopsy, as in this case. Pneumomediastinum and soft tissue emphysema were detected with postmortem CT in a 3-year-old girl after hanging. It was not found during autopsy. This radiological finding matches 3 adult cases previously described. It is assumed that in this case, the first reported in a child, hanging was the most likely cause as well. In the adult cases, it was interpreted as a vital sign; the person must have been alive to create a pressure gradient causing rupture of the alveoli. This case demonstrates one of the added values of postmortem imaging, the possibility of demonstrating findings that remain undetected during autopsy
AB - Postmortem computed tomography (CT) is increasingly being used as a tool in forensic pathology. The exact value of postmortem imaging in detecting specific conditions has not yet been established, but in specific cases, it can be used as a diagnostic tool demonstrating findings that remain undetected during autopsy, as in this case. Pneumomediastinum and soft tissue emphysema were detected with postmortem CT in a 3-year-old girl after hanging. It was not found during autopsy. This radiological finding matches 3 adult cases previously described. It is assumed that in this case, the first reported in a child, hanging was the most likely cause as well. In the adult cases, it was interpreted as a vital sign; the person must have been alive to create a pressure gradient causing rupture of the alveoli. This case demonstrates one of the added values of postmortem imaging, the possibility of demonstrating findings that remain undetected during autopsy
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.12315
DO - https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.12315
M3 - Article
C2 - 24328897
SN - 0022-1198
VL - 59
SP - 559
EP - 563
JO - Journal of forensic sciences
JF - Journal of forensic sciences
IS - 2
ER -