Abstract
Postmortem analysis of the ocular globe is an important topic for forensic pathology and transplantology. Although crucial elements may be gathered from examining cadaveric eyes, the latter do not routinely undergo in-depth analysis. The paucity of quantitative and objective data that are obtainable using current, invasive necroscopic techniques is the main reason for the limited interest in this highly specialized procedure. The aim of the current study is to describe and to object for the first time the postmortem ocular changes by mean of portable optical coherence tomography for evaluating ocular tissues postmortem. The design involved the postmortem analysis (in situ, and without enucleation) of 12 eyes by portable spectral-domain Optical Coherence Tomography. The scans were performed, in corneal, retinal and angle modality at different intervals: <6 h, 6th, 12th, and 24th hour and after autopsy (25th–72nd hour). The morphological changes in the cornea, sclera, vitreous humor and aqueous humor were easy to explore and objectify in these tissues in first 72 h postmortem. On the other hand, the “in situ” observation of the retina was difficult due to the opacification of the lenses in the first 24 h after death.
Highlights
Evaluation of postmortem ocular signs is part of a standard autopsy
A theoretical viewpoint suggests that postmortem ocular findings may be of great use for estimating postmortem interval (PMI), or in some case, for determine the cause of death
In the 1950s and 1960s, Kevorkian and colleagues focused their studies on postmortem ocular changes, of the retina and optic disk [4,5,6]
Summary
Evaluation of postmortem ocular signs is part of a standard autopsy. cadaveric eyes are rarely analyzed in-depth by forensic pathologists as a routine examination or by ophthalmologists for transplantation, which is probably because it is a highly invasive procedure. A theoretical viewpoint suggests that postmortem ocular findings may be of great use for estimating postmortem interval (PMI), or in some case, for determine the cause of death. For the past two centuries, pathologists have drawn attention to postmortem ocular findings [1,2,3]. In the 1950s and 1960s, Kevorkian and colleagues focused their studies on postmortem ocular changes, of the retina and optic disk [4,5,6]. In 1965, Aoki and colleagues suggested the importance of postmortem ocular changes in determining the postmortem interval [7]. In the late 1970s, other authors, such as Wroblewski and colleagues [8,9] studied postmortem ocular findings in a sample of 300 patients macroscopically (i.e., without technical instruments)
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