Clinical Application of Postmortem Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Neonates

Postmortale Magnetresonanztomografie als Alternative zur Autopsie

Eine niedrige Rate von Autopsien nach neonatalen Todesfällen kann unter anderem kulturelle und religiöse Ursachen haben. Ist eine postmortale Magnetresonanztomografie (MRT) gesellschaftlich akzeptabler? Kann sie die Autopsie ersetzen oder ergänzen? Und wie häufig werden dabei unerwartete Pathologien diagnostiziert? Diesen Fragen ging ein israelisches Forscherteam nach.

Pyogenic meningitis and trigeminal neuritis secondary to periodontogenic paranasal sinusitis in a red deer (Cervus elaphus)

An adult female red deer died of a severe seizure and dysbasia. Postmortem computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed. On CT, deciduous right maxillary second and third premolar teeth were observed, and the right infraorbital canal was disrupted. MRI showed that the right trigeminal nerve was enlarged and the right subarachnoid cavity was occupied by fluid and gas. On gross examination, the right paranasal sinus, swollen muscles of the orbit and tonsils, right trigeminal nerve, and right cerebrum surface contained a yellowish-white, cheese-like pus. Based on these findings, the deer was believed to have developed pyogenic meningitis caused by a neuropathic infection secondary to periodontogenic paranasal sinusitis.