Supplementary Material for: Clinical Application of Postmortem Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Neonates

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Recent reports advocate the use of MRI either as a substitute for postmortem examinations or for a more targeted autopsy. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> A full-body postmortem MRI (pMRI) of infants was performed as early as possible after death, and findings were compared to clinical premortem diagnoses. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Thirty-one infants were scanned during the study period. Median gestation at birth was 34 weeks (ranges: 24–43). In 3 (10%) cases, no new findings were detected. In 2 (6%), new minor findings not related to the cause of death were detected, and in 17 (55%), new minor findings related to the cause of death were detected. New major findings related to the cause of death were detected in 4 (13%) cases, and new major findings not related to the cause of death were detected in 5 (16%) cases. In 3 (10%), findings thought to alter the perceived cause of death were detected. Overall, in 23 (74%) cases, pMRI findings reinforced the clinical premortem diagnoses. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> pMRI is a culturally accepted alternative when autopsy is not performed and can either reinforce, refute, or add to premortem clinical diagnoses.

背景：近期有研究提出，可将磁共振成像（MRI）用作尸体解剖的替代方案，或是开展更具针对性的尸检。
方法：本研究对婴儿群体实施全身死后磁共振成像（postmortem MRI, pMRI），检查时机尽可能选在死亡后尽早进行，并将成像结果与临床生前诊断进行对比。
结果：本研究周期内共完成31名婴儿的扫描检查。受试者出生时的胎龄中位数为34周（范围：24~43周）。其中3例（10%）未检出任何新的异常征象；2例（6%）检出与死亡原因无关的轻微异常征象，17例（55%）检出与死亡原因相关的轻微异常征象；4例（13%）检出与死亡原因相关的重大异常征象，5例（16%）检出与死亡原因无关的重大异常征象；另有3例（10%）检出可改变既往判定死亡原因的异常征象。整体而言，23例（74%）的pMRI结果支持了临床生前诊断。
结论：当无法开展传统尸检时，pMRI是一种被文化层面接受的替代方案，其既可以支持、推翻生前临床诊断，也可补充相关诊断信息。