Evaluation of Computed Tomography as a Screening Test for Death Inquest

• NCJ Number: 232885
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 55 Issue: 6 Dated: November 2010 Pages: 1509-1515
• Author(s): Hirotaro Iwase, M.D., Ph.D.; Daisuke Yajima, M.D., Ph.D.; Mutsumi Hayakawa, M.D., Ph.D.; Seiji Yamamoto, M.D., Ph.D.; Hisako Motani, D.D.S., Ph.D.; Ayaka Sakuma, D.D.S.; Shiori Kasahara, B.S.; Hisao Ito, M.D., Ph.D.
• Date Published: November 2010
• Length: 7 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined computed tomography (CT) scans in predicting the cause of death.

Abstract

The Japanese method of inquest, which depends mostly on external examinations, may misdiagnose a considerable number of accidental deaths and suicides as death by disease. The authors conducted computed tomography (CT) scans of 80 cases for which police concluded death by disease or natural causes based on police investigations into the circumstances and results from external examinations. The cause of death was clearly determined by CT scan in 17 of 80 cases. Ten cases underwent autopsy after the police suspected criminality based on results of the CT examinations. The results suggest CT scan may be a tool for preventing a number of overlooked crimes and accidents in Japan. However, it cannot be a perfect tool for discerning between death by disease and other causes of death without cooperation from the investigative agencies and subsequent forensic examinations such as autopsy and toxicological tests. (Published Abstract)