Diagnostic accuracy of unenhanced post-mortem CT and MRI compared to the non-forensic clinical autopsy: a prospective blinded study.

ABSTRACT: The last decades have seen a constant decline in non-forensic clinical autopsy rates worldwide. In this context, post-mortem computed tomography (PMCT) and post-mortem magnetic resonance imaging (PMMR) might offer an alternative to the clinical autopsy. So far, post-mortem imaging is used routinely only in forensic medicine, but it has not yet been implemented into routine clinical pathology casework. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of unenhanced PMCT and PMMR for basic pathology groups and specific diagnoses compared to the clinical autopsy. Post-mortem imaging (PMCT and PMMR) was conducted before autopsy on n = 120 non-forensic patients deceased in hospitals in a prospective study. Imaging findings were compared to autopsy findings, and sensitivity, specificity, positi

SUBMITTER: Hoppe H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12916894 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature