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Fatal scuba diving incident with massive gas embolism in cerebral and spinal arteries

Ozdoba, C. ; Weis, J. ; Plattner, T. ; Dirnhofer, R. ; Yen, K.

In: Neuroradiology, 2005, vol. 47, no. 6, p. 411-416

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    Title
    • Fatal scuba diving incident with massive gas embolism in cerebral and spinal arteries
    Author
    • Ozdoba, C.. Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
    • Weis, J.. Department of Neuropathology, Institute of Pathology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
    • Plattner, T.. Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Bern, IRM-Buehlstrasse 20, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
    • Dirnhofer, R.. Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Bern, IRM-Buehlstrasse 20, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
    • Yen, K.. Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Bern, IRM-Buehlstrasse 20, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
    Document Type
    • Postprint
    Language
    • English
    Published in
    • Neuroradiology, 2005, vol. 47, no. 6, p. 411-416. Springer-Verlag; http://www.springer.de
    Other Version
    OAI-PMH Identifier
    • oai:doc.rero.ch:318298
    Summary
    CT and MRI have the potential to become useful adjuncts to forensic autopsy in the near future. The examination of fatal injuries facilitates a profound experience in the clinical-radiological examination of these cases; the more severe findings in corpses with autopsy verification can help one to understand the tiny signs seen in clinical cases of surviving victims. We present the case of a 44-year-old male diver who died from severe decompression sickness after rapid ascent from approximately 120m. Post-mortem CT and MRI studies of the brain and spinal cord revealed extensive gas inclusions in cerebral arteries, spinal arteries and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) spaces, while the intracranial venous sinuses remained unaffected. These findings were confirmed at autopsy. Appropriate imaging techniques can help forensic pathologists to aim their autopsies at findings that might otherwise remain undetected