DrConnected

An autopsy is an essential part of the medical profession, knowing the cause of death is vital for the patient and for medical knowledge as a whole, but clearly the process can cause further distress to an already grieving family.  Researchers based at the University of Leicester in the UK, have been awarded a grant by the National Institute for Health Research to assist in their work as they continue to look for viable options for less invasive versions of an autopsy.

The work is currently focusing on cardiac cases, and will use CT scan images which at present do not give enough information, and compare with information about the coronary health obtained in a traditional autopsy with the hope of being able to virtually assemble the same information, and therefore rule out the need for that area of autopsy.

Angiograms and CT scans will be used on cadavers, after which a traditional autopsy will be carried out on the heart.  Scientists need to understand what images appear on these screens that signify conditions such as coronary heart disease which currently we cannot diagnosis with a CT scan.  Clearly this also changes the workload of the medical staff performing autopsies and potentially gives them more time to investigate issues in more detail.

Clearly this is just the tip of the iceberg and potentially leaves the door open to other less invasive investigative procedures to be able to replace autopsy in other areas of the body, with the long term aim of being able to complete the whole process without the need for a scalpel at all.