The Post Mortem Imaging (PMI) Taskforce was established at ESPR 2015 in Graz/AT.

Paediatric and perinatal post mortem imaging is a new and rapidly growing field, with the recent introduction of post mortem (PM) cross-sectional imaging, including computed tomography (PMCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (PMMR).

Whilst conventional X-rays have long been used to evaluate the deceased, particularly for suspected fetal skeletal anomalies, and in evaluating suspicious childhood deaths, there is sufficient expertise, guidance and standardization already to cover this use of imaging. However, there is little agreement between practitioners regarding the best use, imaging protocols and potential yield of other imaging in the PM setting, including (but not limited to) ultrasound, PM CT and PMMR. The main focus of the taskforce is therefore the guidance and standardization of non-radiographic post mortem imaging, particularly PMCT and PMMR.

Most of the issues around post mortem imaging are different to other disciplines of paediatric imaging, as they do not relate to radiation dose nor attempts at childhood co-operation whilst in a scanner. Instead, they relate to the ethics of post mortem scanning, parental acceptability, protocol optimisation and access to machines.

The Post Mortem Taskforce aims:

  • to develop a PMI networked collaboration between paediatric radiologist and pathologists, and other disciplines
  • to establish a support network with a governance structure
  • to create implementable PMMR image acquisition protocols
  • to introduce best practice guidelines and standardize scenario-specific protocols e.g. use of PMCT in suspected physical abuse
  • to improve image sequence and quality by data sharing
  • to establish a training strategy for performing and interpreting paediatric PM imaging
  • to widen the availability of PM imaging through raising awareness
 

Chairperson
Willemijn Klein, Nijmegen/NL

Members
Owen Arthurs, London/UK
Rick van Rijn, Amsterdam/NL
Aurelie d’Hondt, Brussels/BE
Monica Rebollo Polo, Barcelona/ES
Marta Gomez Chiari, Barcelona/ES
Stacy Goergen, Port Melbourne/AU 
Elka Miller, Ottawa/CA
Ajay Taranath, Adelaide/AU
David Perry, Auckland/NZ
Susan Shelmerdine, London/UK
Michael Aertsen, Leuven/BE
Christian Abel, Belmont/AU
Padma Rao, Melbourne/AU
Greg Chambers, Leeds/UK
Irmhild Altmann-Schneider, Utrecht/NL

If you would like to become a member of the Post Mortem Taskforce, please send your CV to office@espr.org.

  • Establishing the baseline of where we begin, finalised, published (open access paper PRAD 2016).
  • Collect imaging protocols to establish consensus / best practice guidelines on use of PM CT – joint ESPR / ISFRI ongoing work (lead by Chandra Gerrard, University of New Mexico) – data analysis stage
  • Collect imaging protocols to establish consensus / best practice guidelines on use of PM MR – joint ESPR / ISFRI ongoing work (lead by Dr Elspeth Whitby, University of Sheffield) – data collection ongoing
  • Multicentre trial on PMCT for rib fracture diagnosis – almost complete, data analysis stage
  1. “Fetal and neonatal post-mortem imaging referral template: recommendations from the European Society of Paediatric Radiology Post-mortem Task Force” Aurélie D’Hondt, Susan Shelmerdine, Owen Arthurs; ESPR Post-mortem Task Force, collaborators. 2024 Aug 8. PubMed. doi:10.1007/s00247-024-06017-0.
  2. “Current state of perinatal postmortem magnetic resonance imaging: European Society of Paediatric Radiology questionnaire-based survey and recommendations.” Whitby E, Offiah AC, Shelmerdine SC, van Rijn RR, Aertsen M, Klein WM, Perry D, Goergen SK, Abel C, Taranath A, Gascho D, Miller E, Arthurs OJ. Pediatr Radiol. 2020 Dec 23. doi: 10.1007/s00247-020-04905-9.
  3. “Joint European Society of Paediatric Radiology (ESPR) and International Society for Forensic Radiology and Imaging (ISFRI) guidelines: paediatric postmortem computed tomography imaging protocol.” Shelmerdine SC, Gerrard CY, Rao P, Lynch M, Kroll J, Martin D, Miller E, Filograna L, Martinez RM, Ukpo O, Daly B, Hyodoh H, Johnson K, Watt A, Taranath A, Brown S, Perry D, Boel LWT, Borowska-Solonynko A, van Rijn R, Klein W, Whitby E, Arthurs OJ. Pediatr Radiol. 2019 May;49(5):694-701. doi: 10.1007/s00247-018-04340-x.
  4. “ESPR Post Mortem Taskforce: where we begin” (submitted to PRAD 2016) Arthurs OJ, van Rijn RR, Whitby EH, Johnson K, Miller E, Stenzel M, Watt A, Taranath A, Perry DH. Pediatr Radiol. 2016 Aug;46(9):1363-9. doi: 10.1007/s00247-016-3639-2. Epub 2016 Jul 13. Review. PMID: 27412272
  5. “Current status of paediatric post-mortem imaging: an ESPR questionnaire-based survey” Arthurs OJ, van Rijn RR, Sebire NJ. Pediatr Radiol. 2014 Mar;44(3):244-51. doi: 10.1007/s00247-013-2827-6. Epub 2013 Nov 26.