Advanced imaging tools such as MDCT are being used more and more in forensic medicine, sometimes beyond morgue walls.

It may be too soon for a television series titled CSI: Radiology, but advanced imaging devices like multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) scanners are already accelerating changes in forensic medical science.

MDCT technology is important to forensic investigators because it is fast, non-invasive, can obtain images without destroying the artifact, and can be used when conventional autopsy may not be feasible or where families may forbid conventional autopsy based on religious beliefs.

(Multidetector CT scanners are similar in concept to original single-ring CT devices, except MDCT scanners have between 4 and 64 detector rings.)

The technology even has wheels.

In the first use of mobile MDCT for a mass fatality incident, researchers in England recently found that MDCT can be operational in temporary mortuaries within 20 minutes of arrival.

Depending on the nature of the incident, three different imaging modalities may be required at conventional disaster morgues: fluoroscopy to screen victims prior to autopsy; plain x-ray for bone examination; and dental x-ray units to document dentition. MDCT provides an alternative or replacement for fluoroscopy and plain film x-ray within temporary morgues.

“Our data suggest that CT may be adequate as the sole imaging investigation within a mass fatality mortuary,” said Guy N. Rutty, MD, of the Forensic Pathology Unit, University of Leicester. Rutty’s unit is the world leader in the area of mobile MDCT.

15-MINUTE PHOTO
Rutty recently used a mobile MDCT scanner in a disaster mortuary established after a five vehicle fatal traffic incident. Five out of six bodies were successfully imaged by MDCT in about 15 minutes per body, compared to subsequent full radiological analysis of about one hour per case.

Rutty’s mobile scanner was powered by diesel generators, but can also be plugged into the electrical grid. A truck transported the scanner and imaging suite, which included air conditioning, telecommunications facilities for remote radiology reporting, hard film printing, and CD burners for data storage.