Dataset Information

Comparison of conventional autopsy and magnetic resonance imaging in determining the cause of sudden death in the young.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Sudden death in the young is a tragic complication of a number of medical diseases. There is limited data regarding the utility of post-mortem Magnetic Resonance (MR) imaging and Computer Tomography (CT) scanning in determining the cause of sudden death. This study sought to compare the accuracy of post-mortem cross-sectional imaging (MR and CT) with the conventional autopsy in determining the cause of sudden death in the young. METHODS: Consecutive patients from 2010 to 2012 (aged 1-35 years) who had sudden death were included. Patients were scanned by CT and 1.5 T MR imaging prior to the conventional autopsy being performed. The primary outcome was diagnostic congruence between imaging and conventional autopsy. RESULTS: In 17 patients studied, the mean age at death was 23?±?11 years, with a male predominance (n?=?12; 71%). The most common cause of death was a primary cardiac pathology (n?=?8; 47%), including ARVC (24%) and ischemic heart disease (12%). Non-cardiac causes identified included pulmonary embolism (6%), and aortic dissection (6%). MR imaging correctly identified the diagnosis in 12 patients who subsequently had positive findings at conventional autopsy, while the diagnosis in the remaining 5 cases remained unexplained. MR imaging was found to be highly sensitive (100%) with a high negative (100%) and positive (80%) predictive value. CONCLUSIONS: Dedicated post-mortem MR imaging of the heart and brain is a useful modality in determining the cause of sudden death in children and young adults, particularly in situations where a conventional autopsy cannot be performed for logistic, cultural or personal reasons.

SUBMITTER: Puranik R

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4067524 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Comparison of conventional autopsy and magnetic resonance imaging in determining the cause of sudden death in the young.

Puranik Rajesh R Gray Belinda B Lackey Helen H Yeates Laura L Parker Geoffrey G Duflou Johan J Semsarian Christopher C

Journal of cardiovascular magnetic resonance : official journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance 20140619

<h4>Background</h4>Sudden death in the young is a tragic complication of a number of medical diseases. There is limited data regarding the utility of post-mortem Magnetic Resonance (MR) imaging and Computer Tomography (CT) scanning in determining the cause of sudden death. This study sought to compare the accuracy of post-mortem cross-sectional imaging (MR and CT) with the conventional autopsy in determining the cause of sudden death in the young.<h4>Methods</h4>Consecutive patients from 2010 to ...[more]

PMID: 24947895

Similar Datasets

Project description:BACKGROUND:Minimally invasive autopsy by post mortem magnetic resonance (MR) imaging has been suggested as an alternative for conventional autopsy in view of the declining consented autopsy rates. However, large prospective studies rigorously evaluating the accuracy of such an approach are lacking. We intend to compare the accuracy of a minimally invasive autopsy approach using post mortem MR imaging with that of conventional autopsy in fetuses, newborns and children for detection of the major pathological abnormalities and/or determination of the cause of death. METHODS/DESIGN:We recruited 400 consecutive fetuses, newborns and children referred for conventional autopsy to one of the two participating hospitals over a three-year period. We acquired whole body post mortem MR imaging using a 1.5 T MR scanner (Avanto, Siemens Medical Solutions, Enlargen, Germany) prior to autopsy. The total scan time varied between 90 to 120 minutes. Each MR image was reported by a team of four specialist radiologists (paediatric neuroradiology, paediatric cardiology, paediatric chest & abdominal imaging and musculoskeletal imaging), blinded to the autopsy data. Conventional autopsy was performed according to the guidelines set down by the Royal College of Pathologists (UK) by experienced paediatric or perinatal pathologists, blinded to the MR data. The MR and autopsy data were recorded using predefined categorical variables by an independent person. DISCUSSION:Using conventional post mortem as the gold standard comparator, the MR images will be assessed for accuracy of the anatomical morphology, associated lesions, clinical usefulness of information and determination of the cause of death. The sensitivities, specificities and predictive values of post mortem MR alone and MR imaging along with other minimally invasive post mortem investigations will be presented for the final diagnosis, broad diagnostic categories and for specific diagnosis of each system. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION:NCT01417962 NIHR PORTFOLIO NUMBER: 6794.

Dataset Information

Comparison of conventional autopsy and magnetic resonance imaging in determining the cause of sudden death in the young.

Publications

Comparison of conventional autopsy and magnetic resonance imaging in determining the cause of sudden death in the young.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets