Virtual Autopsy - Why Ideal for Indian Scenario

Virtual autopsy is a new modality of performing autopsy. It utilizes the technological innovation in modern medicine such as multi slice CT Scanning and magnetic resonance imaging to obtain high quality images of the body in multiple plains without mutilation of the human body. It also incorporates other minimally invasive techniques such as image guided biopsy, MR Spectroscopy, postmortem angiography followed by data fusion to give a postmortem diagnosis. Since it is minimally, invasive it is more likely to be acceptable to the society. In USA and European countries, clinical trials are going on to validate this new technique, and is likely to replace or complement conventional autopsies in these countries. In India we are yet to catch up with these nations as the facilities for performing Virtopsy are negligible in our country. The article, discusses the possible benefits of this technique in a country like India. The literature on the subject is also reviewed