Normal postmortem changes in the gastrointestinal tract

Last revised by Hamish Smith on 8 Jan 2019

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Smith H, Normal postmortem changes in the gastrointestinal tract. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 29 Nov 2023) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-61536

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-61536

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/61536

rID:

61536

Article created:

7 Jul 2018, Hamish Smith

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Hamish Smith had no recorded disclosures.

View Hamish Smith's current disclosures

Last revised:

8 Jan 2019, Hamish Smith

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Hamish Smith had no recorded disclosures.

View Hamish Smith's current disclosures

Revisions:

2 times, by 1 contributor - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Gastrointestinal

Normal postmortem changes in the gastrointestinal tract refers to the normal changes that can be expected to be seen in the gastrointestinal tract on post-mortem imaging.

Radiographic features

CT

The following changes may be present in the abdomen and gastrointestinal tract ¹:

intraluminal fluid of a variety of densities can be expected from a variety sources ³ (e.g. food within the gastrointestinal tract, medications, oral contrast administered prior to death, hemorrhage)
hyperdensity of the walls of the gastrointestinal tract ¹
intraluminal gas (as a result of gastrointestinal ischemia and injury during circulatory death ¹)
intraluminal gastric and intestinal gaseous dilation (both as a normal change; but this may also be compounded as a result of CPR or other resuscitative efforts ²)
portal venous gas may be present ¹
intravascular gas and sedimentation in mesenteric vessels, the aorta and large veins can also be expected