False positive aortic dissection on postmortem computed tomography

Isabelle Le Blanc-Louvry (1) , Sophie Thureau (1) , Kathy Ledoux (1) , Benjamin Mogdad (1) , Emma Lagroy (1) , Jean Nicolas Dacher (2) , Gilles Tournel (3, 1)

1 CHU Rouen
2 Service d'imagerie médicale [CHU Rouen]
3 ABTE - Aliments Bioprocédés Toxicologie Environnements

Post-mortem CT-scan (PMCT) has become increasingly useful as a diagnostic tool. However, certain normal postmortem changes may mimic the appearance of pathologic findings. We report two cases of false positive aortic dissection.
METHODS:
Non-contrast PMCT was performed on a sixty-four-detector row scanner. Each PMCT examination was assessed and reported by two independent radiologists. Autopsies were performed according European recommendations.
CASES:
In two corpses, a false positive DeBakey type I aortic dissection was detected. Autopsies confirmed that CT findings were artifactual. For each case the cause of the mistake was individually discussed and mainly based on the abnormalities observed during the autopsy. In fact, in our series (750 PMCT) a true aortic dissection was detected in two corpses during the same period.
CONCLUSION:
When a PMCT is performed, false positive aortic dissection can occur, which confirms the interest in combining opacification.

Keywords: Forensic radiology; Postmortem computed tomography; Diagnostic error; Aortic dissection

Domains: Life Sciences [q-bio]; Human health and pathology

Isabelle Le Blanc-Louvry, Sophie Thureau, Kathy Ledoux, Benjamin Mogdad, Emma Lagroy, et al.. False positive aortic dissection on postmortem computed tomography. Forensic Science International, 2015, 254, pp.e4-e6. ⟨10.1016/j.forsciint.2015.06.014⟩. ⟨hal-02470677⟩