Forensic radiology is the discipline which comprises the performance, interpretation and reportage of the
radiological
In physics, radiation is the emission or transmission of energy in the form of waves or particles through space or a material medium. This includes:
* ''electromagnetic radiation'' consisting of photons, such as radio waves, microwaves, infr ...
examinations and procedures which are needed in court procedures or
law enforcement
Law enforcement is the activity of some members of the government or other social institutions who act in an organized manner to enforce the law by investigating, deterring, rehabilitating, or punishing people who violate the rules and norms gove ...
.
Radiological methods are widely used in
identification
Identification or identify may refer to:
*Identity document, any document used to verify a person's identity
Arts, entertainment and media
* ''Identify'' (album) by Got7, 2014
* "Identify" (song), by Natalie Imbruglia, 1999
* ''Identification ...
,
age estimation and establishing
cause of death
In law, medicine, and statistics, cause of death is an official determination of the conditions resulting in a human's death, which may be recorded on a death certificate. A cause of death is determined by a medical examiner. In rare cases, an ...
.
Comparison of ante mortem and post mortem radiographs is one of the means of identification.
The scanning of baggage, vehicles and individuals have many applications.
Tools like multislice helical computed tomography can be used for detailed documentation of injuries, tissue damage and complications like
air embolism
An air embolism, also known as a gas embolism, is a blood vessel blockage caused by one or more bubbles of air or other gas
Gas is a state of matter that has neither a fixed volume nor a fixed shape and is a compressible fluid. A ''pure g ...
and
pulmonary aspiration
Pulmonary aspiration is the entry of solid or liquid material such as pharyngeal secretions, food, drink, or stomach contents from the oropharynx or gastrointestinal tract, into the trachea and lungs. When pulmonary aspiration occurs during ea ...
of blood. These types of digital autopsies offer certain advantages when compared to traditional
autopsies
An autopsy (also referred to as post-mortem examination, obduction, necropsy, or autopsia cadaverum) is a surgical procedure that consists of a thorough examination of a corpse by dissection to determine the cause, mode, and manner of death; ...
.
References
{{Reflist
External links
Journal of Forensic Radiology and Imaging
Forensic disciplines
Radiology