Advantages Of Forensic Imaging

Forensic imaging, particularly MRI technology is crucial in determining the cause of death in forensic pathology. There are a few main techniques for forensic imaging, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), post-mortem computed tomography (PMCT), and conventional radiography. The PMCT is generally used for gunshot wounds, detection of gas embolism, trauma cases, and changes in the skeletal system. Some advantages of this technique are that it is fast, easy to handle, good three-dimensional reconstruction, excellent visuals of the skeletal system and gases in the body. However, it is not without disadvantages like how it uses radiation, meaning companies must protect their employees, it has limited data storage, limited visualization of soft tissue and employees must go through extensive training to be authorized to operate it.

Some advantages of this technique are that there is no radiation involved, it is good at visualizing soft tissue, and that since it can visualize soft tissue so easily it can identify a multitude of different problems. Some disadvantages are that it is time consuming, expensive, and there is extensive training needed to operate it. The last type of imaging technique that will be covered is conventional radiography which can detect foreign bodies and changes or lesions of the skeletal system and is used when the corpse cannot fit into the CT machine. The advantages of this technique are that it is simple, quick, and cost efficient. However, it uses radiation, cannot make three-dimensional reconstructions, has a superimposed image, and it cannot visualize soft tissue