Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine
Volume 16, Issue 5 , Pages 273-276 , July 2009

Post-mortems in recreational scuba diver deaths: The utility of radiology

  • Lyndsae Clair Wheen, MBChB FRCPA (Consultant Histopathologist)

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Address: Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust, Department of Histopathology, Church Lane, Exeter EX2 5AD, United Kingdom. Tel.: +44 1392 402942; fax: +44 1392 402964.
    • ,
  • Michael Philip Williams, BM BCh FRCR (Consultant Radiologist)

Received 17 July 2008 ,Revised 8 October 2008 ,Accepted 11 December 2008.

References 

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  2. Williamson JA, King GK, Lanskey RM, Rich KW. Fatal arterial gas embolism: detection by chest radiography and imaging before autopsy. Med J Aust. 1990;153:97–100
  3. Roobottom CA, Hunter JD, Bryson PJ. The diagnosis of fatal gas embolism: detection by plain film radiography. Clin Radiol. 1994;49:805–807
  4. Plattner T, Thali MJ, Yen K, Sonnenschein M, Stoupis C, Vock P, et al. Virtopsy-postmortem multislice computed tomography (MSCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a fatal scuba diving accident. J Forensic Sci. 2003;48:1347–1355
  5. Oliver J, Lyons TJ, Harle R. The role of computed tomography in the diagnosis of arterial gas embolism in fatal diving accidents in Tasmania. Aust Radiol. 1999;43:37–40
  6. Ozdoba C, Weis J, Plattner T, Dirnhofer R, Yen K. Fatal scuba diving incident with massive gas embolism in cerebral and spinal arteries. Neuroradiol. 2005;47:411–416
  7. Busuttil A, Obafunwa J. A review of the forensic investigation of scuba diving deaths. Sci Justice. 1995;35:87–95
  8. Saukko P, Knight B. The pathophysiology of death. Knight’s forensic pathology. 3rd ed.. London: Arnold; 2004;p. 52–97
  9. Edmonds C. Investigation of diving fatalities. In:  Edmonds C,  Lowry C,  Pennefather J,  Walker R editor. Diving and subaquatic medicine. 4th ed.. London: Arnold; 2002;p. 517–530
  10. Lawrence C. Interpretation of gas in diving autopsies. SPUMS J. 1997;27:228–230
  11. Walker R. Pulmonary barotrauma. In:  Edmonds C,  Lowry C,  Pennefather J,  Walker R editor. Diving and subaquatic medicine. 4th ed.. London: Arnold; 2002;p. 55–70
  12. Neuman TS, Jacoby I, Bove AA. Fatal pulmonary barotrauma due to obstruction of the central circulation with air. J Emerg Med. 1998;16:413–417
  13. Cole AJ, Griffiths D, Lavender S, Summers P, Rich K. Relevance of post-mortem radiology to the diagnosis of fatal cerebral gas embolism from compressed air diving. J Clin Pathol. 2006;59:489–491

PII: S1752-928X(08)00247-3

doi: 10.1016/j.jflm.2008.12.011

Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine
Volume 16, Issue 5 , Pages 273-276 , July 2009

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