Special lecture

My Experience and Involvement in Postmortem Imaging

This summary recounts the evolution of my career and my involvement in postmortem imaging. In 1991, after graduating from university, I began working at a university hospital and a cancer center, where I spent 8 years. Seven of those 8 years were dedicated to my role as a radiologist and respiratory physician, engaging in imaging diagnosis (CT, MRI, ultrasound, bronchoscopy), treatment (chemotherapy, radiation therapy), and terminal care for lung cancer patients. Whenever a hospitalized patient passed away, I would recommend a pathological autopsy to the family. This practice allowed me to frequently compare antemortem (living) imaging findings with autopsy findings (radiologic-pathologic correlation). One of those 8 years I spent as an anesthesiologist in the operating room and conducted cardiopulmonary resuscitation managements in the emergency room (ER).　 What I learned regarding physiology, biochemistry, and pharmacology through my work experience in the fields of pulmonology and anesthesiology, not only anatomical and pathological studies as a radiologist, became the base knowledge for me in writing later research papers.

In 1999, I was transferred to Tsukuba Medical Center Hospital (TMCH), an emergency hospital where postmortem CT (PMCT) has been systematically performed for the first time in Japan since 1985 when the hospital was established. The purpose of the PMCT was to screen for causes of death in patients who were brought to the ER in cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA), were resuscitated, but subsequently died in the ER. (In Japan, the number of forensic pathologists is low, and the autopsy rate remains very limited.)

Upon my transfer to TMCH, I discovered a substantial archive of PMCT image data in the film reading room. Though emergency and critical care physicians referred to this valuable dataset as “a treasure trove”, they were too busy to analyze it. Therefore, I began analyzing the accumulated data and reported in 2000 that the PMCT findings could be classified into three main categories: cause of death, postmortem changes, and resuscitation-induced changes. At that time, I read Dr. Brogdon’s book “Forensic Radiology” published in 1998, which mainly focused on postmortem plain radiographs with limited descriptions regarding PMCT and postmortem MRI (PMMRI). TMCH also had an autopsy center within its facilities where forensic pathologists conducted autopsies on unusual deaths. I started to perform PMCT and PMMRI on bodies prior to autopsy, and presented the results of radiologic-pathologic correlation at conferences.

In 2006, a mystery novel involving postmortem imaging as a clue to solve problems became a bestselling novel in Japan; since then, the usefulness of postmortem imaging and the term ‘Autopsy imaging’ used in the novel have become widely known among public beyond medical professionals.

In 2015, I was transferred to my current hospital (equipped with 100 beds), where PMCT was already being performed on patients with CPA in the ER and sudden death cases among hospitalized patients. Currently, I am working with my role of in-hospital medical safety surveys, in addition to my primary role as a director of radiology department. I also I receive police inquests to inspect unusually deceased bodies. I perform PMCTs every few days in the evening between 17:00 and 24:00, and PMMRIs in some cases. The number of PMCTs has been especially increasing in Japan (60,000 cases in 2018 compared to 20,000 cases in 2012) though the autopsy rate has been remaining low. Further advancement in postmortem image interpretations, as well as distribution of the knowledge, will be of substantial help for death-cause detection in unusual deaths.

Curriculum Vitae

Name： Seiji Shiotani, MD, Ph.D　

Date and place of birth： December 22, 1965, Kyoto City, Japan

Nationality： Japanese

Affiliation: Director of Radiology Department, Seirei Fuji General Hospital

3-1 Minami-cho, Fuji City, Shizuoka Prefecture 417-0026, Japan

e-mail: s.shiotani@sis.seirei.or.jp, Tel. +81-545-52-0780, Fax. +81-545-52-5837

Academic and occupational history:

March 1991: Graduated Shimane Medical College (Currently Shimane University Faculty of Medicine)
July 1991 to May 1993: Resident, Shimane Medical College
June 1993 to May 1996: Resident specializing cancer diagnosis/treatment, Kanagawa Prefectural Cancer Center
June 1993 to May 1996: Assistant Professor, Radiology Dept., Shimane Medical College
1999 to Apr. 2001: Clinical Fellow, Radiology Dept., Tsukuba Medical Center Hosp.
2001 to Mar. 2003: Chief of Radiology Dept., Tsukuba Medical Center Hosp.
2003 to Apr. 2015: Director of Radiology Dept., Tsukuba Medical Center Hosp.
2015 to present: Director of Radiology Dept. and Health and Safety Measures Promotion Office (Since April 2019), Seirei Fuji General Hospital
2016: Received Ph.D. degree at Hamamatsu University School of Medicine

Memberships：

Japan Radiological Society (JRS)
Japanese College of Radiology (JCR)
Japanese Society of Legal Medicine
The Japan Society of Autopsy imaging (JSAi)
The International Society of Forensic Radiology and Imaging (ISFRI)

Awards：

Bronze medal, The 65th Annual Meeting of the Japan Radiological Society (2006)
Silver medal, The 66th Annual Meeting of the Japan Radiological Society (2007)
Academic Promotion Award, Medical Association of Physicians at Hospitals of Ibaraki Prefecture (2008)
Platinum medal, The 68th Annual Meeting of the Japan Radiological Society (2009)

Curriculum Vitae

Education

2015 Chiba University, PhD

2010 The University of Tokyo, Bachelor of Medicine

Employment & Work Experience

Department of Forensic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo

August 2024 – Current: Associate Professor

April 2015 – July 2024: Assistant Professor

Department of Legal Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University

September 2024 – Current: Project Associate Professor

April 2015 – August 2024: Project Assistant Professor

May 2012 – March 2015: Project Researcher

Centre for Forensic Anthropology, The University of Western Australia

May 2024 – Current: Adjunct Senior Lecturer

March 2023 – March 2024: Visiting research fellow

Tokyo Rosai Hospital

April 2010 – March 2012: Clinical Resident

Forensic anthropology using CT in Japan

Suguru Torimitsu^1,2

¹Department of Forensic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo

²Education and Research Center of Legal Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University

Forensic anthropology is a branch of biological anthropology that is broadly defined as the scientific study of human skeletal remains, severely decomposed bodies, or body parts for identification. Identification of unknown remains is one of the most important aspects of medicolegal practice. A forensic anthropologist can estimate biological profiles such as ancestry, sex, age, and stature of unknown remains. Before the 1940s, the practice of forensic anthropology was limited to anatomists, physicians, and physical anthropologists. During this formative period, there was no formal instruction in the forensic applications of biological anthropology and little published research. From the 1940s to the early 1970s, attention from medicolegal and military agencies increased as they began to recognize the utility of forensic anthropology in the identification of deceased service members from WWII and the Korean War. Forensic anthropologists began using their expertise to assist law enforcement agencies in identifying victims of crimes. Forensic anthropology in Japan also has a long history; a lot of biological profile estimation methods using Japanese bones have been reported since the early 20th century. However, Japan did not have documented human skeletal collections. As a result, the sample size was small, and it was difficult to report our research internationally. Recently, postmortem CT scanning has become a useful tool for forensic practice and is routinely performed in some forensic departments. CT scanning can provide detailed information about the deceased. This information can be crucial for identifying victims, determining the cause of death, and reconstructing past events. CT has various advantages, such as being excellent at depicting bones, eliminating the need for maceration procedures, allowing data to be stored semi-permanently in little space, and being able to perform measurements even after autopsy. Therefore, CT images are useful for forensic anthropology research. Chiba University and the University of Tokyo introduced postmortem CT systems in 2009 and 2016, respectively, and we have a large amount of postmortem CT image data. We then performed various bone measurements and investigated their usefulness. During the lecture, some of our published research results and thoughts on the prospects of forensic anthropology will be presented.

Dinosaur Research in the Digital Age

Soichiro Kawabe^{1, 2}

¹ Institute of Dinosaur Research, Fukui Prefectural University² Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum

The advent of digital technology, particularly X-ray CT scanners, has ushered in a new era in paleontology. These cutting-edge tools enable the non-destructive examination of fossilized remains, providing researchers with unprecedented insights into the internal structures of fossils. X-ray CT scanners, similar to those used in medical settings, have become indispensable in studying extinct vertebrates, including dinosaurs.

The application of X-ray CT scanning to paleontology began in the 1980s and has since evolved into a vital tool for examining the internal anatomy of fossils without causing damage. This technique is especially valuable in analyzing the cranial anatomy of dinosaurs, offering insights into the morphology of the brain, nerves, blood vessels, and inner ear structures.

In our research, we have utilized X-ray CT scanning to investigate the skull structures of various dinosaurs. For instance, we conducted a study on the lower jaw of Tyrannosaurus rex, where we discovered a complex network of trigeminal nerves, indicating a highly sensitive sense of touch in the jaw. This finding revealed that T. rex could use its jaw tips delicately despite its reputation as a powerful predator.

Additionally, we analyzed the well-preserved skull of Fukuiraptor, a theropod dinosaur discovered in Katsuyama, Fukui Prefecture, Japan. The X-ray CT scans of Fukuiraptor‘s skull revealed an exceptionally developed olfactory bulb and semicircular canals, indicating sharp senses of smell and balance. These findings suggest that Fukuiraptor was a highly agile animal, relying on its keen senses for survival.

The continuous unearthing of dinosaur fossils, combined with rapid advancements in CT scanning technology and image analysis software, promises to drive further breakthroughs in our understanding of dinosaur evolution and behavior. The integration of deep learning techniques in image analysis is poised to significantly enhance the accuracy and breadth of future research, opening up new vistas into the lives of these ancient creatures.

Curriculum Vitae

Soichiro Kawabe, PhD

Paleontologist.

Associate Professor at the Institute of Dinosaur Research, Fukui Prefectural University.

Researcher at the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum.

Born in 1985. Completed a Ph.D. program at the Graduate School of Science, the University of Tokyo.

Specializes in the comparative morphology of vertebrates, with a particular focus on the brain morphology of dinosaurs, including birds, and mammals.

International Society of Forensic Radiology and Imaging

ISFRI 2025

Program

Dr. Seiji Shiotani

Dr. Suguru Torimitsu

Dr. Soichiro Kawabe

Curriculum Vitae

Curriculum Vitae

Curriculum Vitae