Effects of blood loss on organ attenuation on postmortem CT and organ weight at autopsy.
Options
BORIS DOI
Publisher DOI
PubMed ID
34817651
Description
BACKGROUND
Cases of external hemorrhage are difficult to recognize on postmortem computed tomography (PMCT).
PURPOSE
To investigate the effects of blood loss on CT attenuation of the spleen, liver, kidneys, and lungs on PMCT and to assess the relationship between blood loss and organ weight.
METHODS
A total of 125 cases with blood loss were sex- and age-matched to 125 control cases without blood loss. Individual organ attenuation was measured on transverse CT images. Organ weights of the liver, spleen, kidneys, and lung were extracted from the autopsy protocols.
RESULTS
Organ weight was significantly lower in cases with blood loss (lung 30%, spleen 28%, kidneys 14%, liver 18%) than in controls. CT attenuation of the lungs was significantly lower (30%) in cases with blood loss than in controls. CT attenuation of the spleen and kidneys did not significantly differ between cases and controls. CT attenuation of the liver was significantly higher (25%) in cases with blood loss than in controls.
CONCLUSION
Blood loss decreases organ weight and CT attenuation of the lungs but appears to have no significant effect on CT attenuation of the spleen and kidneys. The increased liver attenuation in cases with blood loss compared to controls was an unexpected finding and remains challenging to explain. One probable interpretation refers to different levels of hepatic glycogen; however, further work is warranted to substantiate this hypothesis.
Cases of external hemorrhage are difficult to recognize on postmortem computed tomography (PMCT).
PURPOSE
To investigate the effects of blood loss on CT attenuation of the spleen, liver, kidneys, and lungs on PMCT and to assess the relationship between blood loss and organ weight.
METHODS
A total of 125 cases with blood loss were sex- and age-matched to 125 control cases without blood loss. Individual organ attenuation was measured on transverse CT images. Organ weights of the liver, spleen, kidneys, and lung were extracted from the autopsy protocols.
RESULTS
Organ weight was significantly lower in cases with blood loss (lung 30%, spleen 28%, kidneys 14%, liver 18%) than in controls. CT attenuation of the lungs was significantly lower (30%) in cases with blood loss than in controls. CT attenuation of the spleen and kidneys did not significantly differ between cases and controls. CT attenuation of the liver was significantly higher (25%) in cases with blood loss than in controls.
CONCLUSION
Blood loss decreases organ weight and CT attenuation of the lungs but appears to have no significant effect on CT attenuation of the spleen and kidneys. The increased liver attenuation in cases with blood loss compared to controls was an unexpected finding and remains challenging to explain. One probable interpretation refers to different levels of hepatic glycogen; however, further work is warranted to substantiate this hypothesis.
Date of Publication
2022-03
Publication Type
Article
Subject(s)
Keyword(s)
Autopsy Exsanguination Organ attenuation Organ weight Postmortem computed tomography
Language(s)
en
Contributor(s)
Heimer, Jakob | |
Chatzaraki, Vasiliki | |
Schweitzer, Wolf | |
Thali, Michael J |
Series
International journal of legal medicine
Publisher
Springer
ISSN
0937-9827
Related URL(s)
https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/162361
Access(Rights)
open.access