Development of coronary computed tomography angiography -Towards the application to forensic diagnosis of cardiac diseases other than coronary artery disease-

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K21445
• Project/Area Number (Other): 18H06364 (2018)
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund (2019); Single-year Grants (2018)
• Review Section: 0908:Society medicine, nursing, and related fields
• Research Institution: Gunma University
• Principal Investigator: Hayakawa Akira 群馬大学, 大学院医学系研究科, 助教 (90758575)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-08-24 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: PMCT / 死後画像検査 / 死後冠動脈造影検査 / 法医学 / 心臓性突然死

Outline of Final Research Achievements

There were cases that demonstrated the further usefulness of coronary postmortem computed tomography angiography (coronary PMCTA). I experienced cases in which it was possible to detect thromboembolism in areas that were difficult to detect by histopathological search alone.
Besides, in some cases, it was difficult to evaluate the findings of coronary artery stenosis macroscopically because the post mortem changes had advanced. Coronary PMCTA was performed in such cases, and the findings of coronary artery stenosis could be easily visualized. Coronary PMCTA has proven to be a useful examination in determining the cause of death.
In addition, it was previously difficult to distinguish on imaging between calcification of the coronary arteries and lumen-filled contrast agents. However, by adjusting the ratio of the components of the contrast agent, it was possible to clearly distinguish between them, leading to further improvement in diagnostic accuracy.

Free Research Field

法医学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

冠動脈疾患の診断に有用とされている死後冠動脈造影検査を冠動脈疾患以外の疾患の診断に応用させることは、死後冠動脈造影検査をより有意義な検査にするとともに、突然死の診断および病態解明に重要であると考えられた。