Diagnosis of fatal pulmonary fat embolism with minimally invasive virtual autopsy and post-mortem biopsy

• Published in: Legal medicine (Tokyo, Japan) Vol. 12; no. 5; pp. 233 - 237
• Main Authors: Filograna, Laura, Bolliger, Stephan A, Spendlove, Danny, Schön, Corinna, Flach, Patricia M, Thali, Michael J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01-09-2010
• Subjects: Aged; Autopsy - methods; Biopsy; Biopsy, Needle; Computed tomography; Embolism, Fat - diagnosis; Fat embolism; Fatal Outcome; Female; Humans; Internal Medicine; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; Needle biopsy; Post-mortem imaging; Pulmonary Embolism - diagnosis; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Fat embolism; Computed tomography; Post-mortem imaging; Needle biopsy
• ISSN: 1344-6223; 1873-4162
• DOI: 10.1016/j.legalmed.2010.04.003

Abstract We report a case of a 78-year-old female with a proximal femur fracture caused by an accidental fall who died suddenly 1 h after orthopaedic prosthesis insertion. Post-mortem computed tomography (CT) scan and histological examination of samples obtained with post-mortem percutaneous needle biopsies of both lungs were performed. Analysis of the medical history and the clinical scenario immediately before death, imaging data, and biopsy histology established the cause of death without proceeding to traditional autopsy. It was determined to be acute right ventricular failure caused by massive pulmonary fat embolism. Although further research in post-mortem imaging and post-mortem tissue sampling by needle biopsies is necessary, we conclude that the use of CT techniques and percutaneous biopsy, as additional tools, can offer a viable alternative to traditional autopsy in selected cases and may increase the number of minimally invasive forensic examinations performed in the future.