Validation study for postmortem MRI for death investigation

• Project/Area Number: 26870102
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Radiation science; Legal medicine
• Research Institution: Chiba University
• Principal Investigator: Makino Yohsuke 千葉大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 特任講師 (50725017)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2015)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,160,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥960,000); Fiscal Year 2015: ¥3,510,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥810,000); Fiscal Year 2014: ¥650,000 (Direct Cost: ¥500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥150,000)
• Keywords: 死後MRI / 死後CT / 死因推定 / 死後画像診断 / 死因究明 / T2値

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Postmortem computed tomography (CT) is not enough to establish the death investigation system based on imaging. It is recommended that some other imaging modalities to be performed. In our study, we have used mobile magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for postmortem imaging prior to autopsy and evaluated its feasibility and utility for death investigation. As a result, all of the scans can be performed properly and it can be said our mobile MRI system is feasible for death investigations. From the comparison with CTs, there are some findings provided only by MRI, which suggests great advantages of this modality but some findings seem to be false positive. Larger numbers of cases must be included for future evaluation.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Fluid-Fluid Level and Pericardial Hyperdense Ring Appearance Findings on Unenhanced Postmortem CT Can Differentiate Between Postmortem and Antemortem Pericardial Hemorrhage. (2015)
  • Author(s): Yamaguchi R, Makino Y, Chiba F, Torimitsu S, Yajima D, Shinozaki T, Iwase H.
  • Journal Title: American Journal of Roentgenology Volume: 205 Issue: 6 Pages: W568-W577
  • DOI: 10.2214/ajr.15.14808
  • Peer Reviewed / Acknowledgement Compliant
• [Journal Article] Can ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm be accurately diagnosed as the cause of death without postmortem computed tomography when autopsies cannot be performed? (2015)
  • Author(s): Makino Y, Yamamoto S, Shiotani S, Hayakawa H, Fujimoto H, Yokota H, Horikoshi T, Iwase H, Uno T.
  • Journal Title: Forensic Science International Volume: 249 Pages: 107-111
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2015.01.022
  • Peer Reviewed / Acknowledgement Compliant
• [Journal Article] Mercury embolism of the lung and right ventricle revealed by postmortem computed tomography and X-ray analytic microscopy. (2015)
  • Author(s): Makino Y, Abe H, Yokoyama M, Torimitsu S, Chiba F, Yokota H, Oka T, Iwase H.
  • Journal Title: Forensic Science Medicine and Pathology Volume: 11 Issue: 3 Pages: 464-467
  • DOI: 10.1007/s12024-015-9696-2
  • Peer Reviewed / Acknowledgement Compliant
• [Journal Article] Sudden death due to coronary artery dissection associated with fibromuscular dysplasia revealed by postmortem selective computed tomography coronary angiography: A case report. (2015)
  • Author(s): Makino Y, Inokuchi G, Yokota H, Hayakawa M, Yajima D, Motomura A, Chiba F, Torimitsu S, Nakatani Y, Iwase H.
  • Journal Title: Forensic Science International Volume: 253 Pages: e10-e15
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2015.05.015
  • Peer Reviewed / Acknowledgement Compliant
• [Journal Article] Fatal right coronary artery rupture following blunt chest trauma: detection by postmortem selective coronary angiography. (2015)
  • Author(s): Inokuchi G, Makino Y, Motomura A, Chiba F, Torimitsu S, Hoshioka Y, Iwase H.
  • Journal Title: International Journal of Legal Medicine Volume: 130 Issue: 3 Pages: 759-63
  • DOI: 10.1007/s00414-015-1215-1
  • Peer Reviewed / Acknowledgement Compliant
• [Journal Article] Spinal Cord Injuries With Normal Postmortem CT Findings: A Pitfall of Virtual Autopsy for Detecting Traumatic Death. (2014)
  • Author(s): Yohsuke Makino, Hajime Yokota, Mutsumi Hayakawa, Daisuke Yajima, Go Inokuchi, Eiji Nakatani, and Hirotaro Iwase
  • Journal Title: American Journal of Roentgenology Volume: 203 Issue: 2 Pages: 240-244
  • DOI: 10.2214/ajr.13.11775
  • Peer Reviewed / Acknowledgement Compliant
• [Presentation] Differences between postmortem CT and autopsy findings in forensic investigation of cervical spine injuries (2016)
  • Author(s): Makino Y.
  • Organizer: 5th Congress of the International Society of Forensic Radiology and Imaging
  • Place of Presentation: Amsterdam, Netherland
  • Year and Date: 2016-05-12
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] 頸損傷事例の解剖所見とCT所見の比較検討. (2015)
  • Author(s): 槇野陽介, 横田元, 矢島大介, 猪口剛, 本村あゆみ, 千葉文子, 鳥光優, 宇野隆, 岩瀬博太郎.
  • Organizer: 第51回日本医学放射線学会秋季臨床大会
  • Place of Presentation: アイーナ（岩手県、盛岡市）
  • Year and Date: 2015-10-02
• [Presentation] 死後CTによる死因究明のピットフォール (2015)
  • Author(s): 槇野陽介
  • Organizer: 札幌医科大学大学院医学研究科主催 死因究明先端研究セミナー
  • Place of Presentation: 札幌医科大学（北海道、札幌市）
  • Year and Date: 2015-09-16
  • Invited
• [Presentation] 死後CT検査から得られる情報の有用性と限界について (2015)
  • Author(s): 槇野陽介
  • Organizer: 日本医学写真学会
  • Place of Presentation: アルファあなぶきホール（香川県、高松市）
  • Year and Date: 2015-07-04
  • Invited
• [Presentation] Metallic particles in the lung and the right heart wall detected by post-mortem computed tomography: Two case reports. (2015)
  • Author(s): Makino Y.
  • Organizer: 4th Congress of the International Society of Forensic Radiology and Imaging
  • Place of Presentation: Leicester, UK
  • Year and Date: 2015-05-15
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Can post-mortem multidetector CT use for cervical spine clearance? (2014)
  • Author(s): Yohsuke Makino, Hajime Yokota, Mutsumi Hayakawa, Daisuke Yajima, Go Inokuchi, Ayumi Motomura, Fumiko Chiba, Suguru Torimitsu, Eiji Nakatani, Hirotaro Iwase
  • Organizer: The 3rd Congress of International Society of Forensic Radiology and Imaging
  • Place of Presentation: マルセイユ、フランス
  • Year and Date: 2014-05-15 – 2014-05-17