ABSTRACT
Computed tomography (CT) is widely used in postmortem investigations as an adjunct to the traditional autopsy in forensic medicine. To date, several studies have described postmortem CT findings as being caused by normal postmortem changes. However, on interpretation, postmortem CT findings that are seemingly due to normal postmortem changes initially, may not have been mere postmortem artifacts. In this pictorial essay, we describe the common postmortem CT findings in cases of atraumatic in-hospital death and describe the diagnostic pitfalls of normal postmortem changes that can mimic real pathologic lesions.
Subject(s)
Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Autopsy/instrumentation , Brain/pathology , Forensic Medicine/instrumentation , Gastrointestinal Tract/pathology , Heart/diagnostic imaging , Lung/pathology , Myocardium/pathology , Postmortem Changes , Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methodsABSTRACT
We report a case of malignant lymphoma of the duodenum with right atrial invasion. A 71-year-old man presented with anemia and exertional dyspnea. Gastric fibroscopy showed a duodenal tumor pathologically diagnosed as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Echocardiography showed a large right atrial tumor. We performed urgent surgery to prevent a tumor embolism. As the tumor was firmly attached to the atrium, septum and ascending aorta, we performed partial resection to improve the patient's hemodynamics status. Pathologic findings showed DLBCL. Systemic chemotherapy induced partial remission with out any cardiac recurrence.