New Delhi: IMA is for establishing virtual autopsies at clinical level for non-medicolegal cases (whole body CT, whole body MRI, post mortem angio and molecular autopsy)” Virtopsy or virtual autopsy is an alternative to traditional autopsy, conducted with scanning and imaging technology. The methods used are whole body or limited CT and or MRI. One can add to it CT guided post mortem biopsies for histopathological and genetic correlations.
CT is well suited to show foreign objects, bone and air or gas distribution throughout the body, whereas MRI sequences are strong in detailing organ and soft tissue findings. A comprehensive analysis of both surface and deep tissue findings may require fusion of CT, MRI and 3D surface data.
Virtual autopsy using the whole body CT scan or MRI can done in no time, will leave no scar and can be the answers in finding the cause of death and also evaluate the cause in unexplained deaths. The same is necessary to prevent further such episodes in the community. It is also the answer for most medicolegal disputes.
In every death IMA members should give an option for virtual biopsy with or without mini FNAC/ tissue biopsy. And informed refusal must be noted.