Virtual Autopsy with CT Angiography Compares Favorably with Medical Autopsy in Unexpected Deaths

For many reasons, medical autopsies often are not performed to investigate unexpected deaths. In this prospective, single-center study, researchers in Germany compared virtual autopsy (NEJM JW Gen Med Feb 9 2012) using computed tomography (CT) angiography with traditional autopsy in 50 hospitalized patients who died unexpectedly or within 48 hours of events necessitating cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Virtual autopsy consisted of CT without angiography followed by multiphase CT angiography of the arteries, veins, and circulation. Medical autopsy and histology were performed after virtual autopsy. Two internists reviewed clinical records for diagnoses made before death and compared these with virtual and medical autopsy findings. Diagnoses w…