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Multiphase Postmortem Computed Tomography Angiography (MPMCTA)

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Atlas of Postmortem Angiography

Abstract

The technique of multiphase postmortem computed tomography angiography (MPMCTA) is today’s most often used and published method of postmortem angiography (PMA). It consists of a standardized protocol of perfusion parameters, injection material, and data acquisition. Specific material has been developed to ease the use of the technique and document the perfusion of the body. Thanks to this technique, it is possible to visualize the vascular system of the head, thorax, abdomen, and partially the limbs of a body even after a long postmortem delay. Therefore, diagnosis of various vascular, organic, and soft-tissue lesions can be achieved radiologically. In general, this minimally invasive method is performed via the cannulation of the femoral vessels of one side of the body. However, as an alternative, the cannulation site can be switched to the axillary vessels. No matter which approach is chosen, the same injection parameters are applied, leading to no change in the technical protocol. This chapter explains in detail how an MPMCTA is performed using either the femoral or the axillary approach.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Forensic Imaging, University Center of Legal Medicine Lausanne-Geneva, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Silke Grabherr MD, PhD, Audrey Rinaldi & Alejandro Dominguez

  2. Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy

    Cristoforo Pomara MD

Authors
  1. Silke Grabherr MD, PhD
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  2. Audrey Rinaldi
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  3. Alejandro Dominguez
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  4. Cristoforo Pomara MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Silke Grabherr MD, PhD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University Center of Legal Medicine, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Silke Grabherr

  2. University Center of Legal Medicine, University Hospital Center Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Jochen M. Grimm

  3. Institute of Legal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppend, Hamburg, Germany

    Axel Heinemann

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Grabherr, S., Rinaldi, A., Dominguez, A., Pomara, C. (2016). Multiphase Postmortem Computed Tomography Angiography (MPMCTA). In: Grabherr, S., Grimm, J., Heinemann, A. (eds) Atlas of Postmortem Angiography. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28537-5_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28537-5_10

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-28535-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-28537-5

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