Post-mortem MRI: a viable alternative to an autopsy

Using MRI and blood tests can establish the cause of death in foetuses and newborn babies and is virtually as accurate as a standard autopsy (open dissection), according to a paper.

The study, led by Professor Andrew Taylor from the UCL Institute of Cardiovascular Science and Dr Sudhin Thayyil, NIHR Clinician Scientist and Consultant Neonatologist, and involving several BRC-supported researchers, found that full-body magnetic resonance imaging scans combined with non-invasive investigations were as effective as a standard autopsy in detecting any major abnormalities that led to a young child