Abstract
Background Whole body magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is increasingly used as an alternative for conventional autopsy; however, a recent systematic review suggested that post-mortem MR imaging had a sensitivity of 12% (95% CI-0.4 to 31) for detecting major cardiac pathology (Thayyil et al. Eur J Radiol 2010; 75(1):e142-8). We wanted to compare the accuracy of high-resolution 3D post-mortem cardiovascular MR (CMR) imaging with conventional cardiac autopsy in fetuses, newborns and children.
Highlights
Whole body magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is increasingly used as an alternative for conventional autopsy; a recent systematic review suggested that post-mortem MR imaging had a sensitivity of 12% for detecting major cardiac pathology (Thayyil et al Eur J Radiol 2010; 75(1):e142-8)
We prospectively studied 342 fetuses, newborns and children, referred for autopsy to Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children or University College London Hospitals, over a 3-year period
The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of cardiovascular MR (CMR) compared to conventional autopsy are shown in Table 1, with examples of image quality shown in Figures 1 & 2
Summary
Whole body magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is increasingly used as an alternative for conventional autopsy; a recent systematic review suggested that post-mortem MR imaging had a sensitivity of 12% (95% CI-0.4 to 31) for detecting major cardiac pathology (Thayyil et al Eur J Radiol 2010; 75(1):e142-8). We wanted to compare the accuracy of high-resolution 3D post-mortem cardiovascular MR (CMR) imaging with conventional cardiac autopsy in fetuses, newborns and children
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
