Journal article
Can post-mortem coronary artery calcium scores aid diagnosis in young sudden death?
ED Paratz, B Costello, L Rowsell, N Morgan, K Smith, T Thompson, C Semsarian, A Pflaumer, P James, D Stub, A La Gerche, D Zentner, S Parsons
Forensic Science Medicine and Pathology | HUMANA PRESS INC | Published : 2021
Abstract
This study sought to explore the feasibility and utility of post-mortem coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring in identifying patients with ischemic heart disease as cause of sudden death. 100 deceased patients aged 18–50 years underwent post-mortem examination in the setting of sudden death. At post-mortem, fifty cases were determined to have ischemic heart disease, and fifty had death attributed to trauma or unascertained causes. The CAC score was calculated in a blinded manner from post-mortem CTs performed on all cases. CAC scores were assessable in 97 non-decomposed cases (feasibility 97%). The median CAC score was 88 Agatston units [IQR 0–286] in patients deceased from ischemic heart di..
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Awarded by National Hospice Foundation
Funding Acknowledgements
This project was not directly funded. EDP is supported by a NHMRC/NHF co-funded Postgraduate Scholarship (APP 1168218), RACP JJ Billings Scholarship and PSA Cardiovascular Scholarship. ALG is supported by a NHF Future Leader Fellowship. DS is supported by a NHF Future Leader Fellowship and Viertel Foundation Grant. CS is supported by a NHMRC Australia Practitioner Fellowship. The EndUCD registry is supported by the Ross Dennerstein Foundation.