Post-mortem interval estimation based on liver and striated muscle computed tomography attenuations in rats

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The interest on post-mortem computed tomographic studies targeting post-mortem interval (PMI) estimations is increasing. Most studies have been conducted in an uncontrolled or relatively less controlled condition. However, this study investigates the usefulness of computed tomography attenuations of the liver and striated muscles in PMI estimation under strictly controlled environmental conditions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Post-mortem computed tomography images of 30 Wistar Albino rats were obtained in the first 30 min after death and 12, 24, 36, 48, 72, 96, 120, 144 and 168-hours following death. Repeated attenuations of both thelateral lobes of the liver and paraspinal muscle were recorded in 0.12-cm2 regions of interest. RESULTS: The attenuation values of the liver and paraspinal muscles were higher 12-hour post-mortem. A significant difference was observed between the images obtained 30 minutes post-mortem and those obtained 12 hours post-mortem in both male (p=0.01) and female rats (p=0.01). Different cut-off attenuation values for the liver and muscle tissue were determined to estimate the post-mortem interval. CONCLUSIONS: The use of attenuation values of the liver and striated muscles with the proposed model was found to be beneficial for the determination of PMI. The cut-off values of attenuation, especially for the liver, can be used in the delimitation of the post-mortem interval.