Imaging in anatomy: a comparison of imaging techniques in embalmed human cadavers

Abstract

Background: A large variety of imaging techniques is an integral part of modern medicine. Introducing radiological imaging techniques into the dissection course serves as a basis for improved learning of anatomy and multidisciplinary learning in pre-clinical medical education.

Methods: Four different imaging techniques (ultrasound, radiography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging) were performed in embalmed human body donors to analyse possibilities and limitations of the respective techniques in this peculiar setting.

Results: The quality of ultrasound and radiography images was poor, images of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging were of good quality.

Conclusion: Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging have a superior image quality in comparison to ultrasound and radiography and offer suitable methods for imaging embalmed human cadavers as a valuable addition to the dissection course.

Figure 1

Very poor quality of ultrasound image of the kidney. The evaluation of reliable measurements of the kidney was unsuccessful due to severe gas artifacts.

Figure 2

Poor quality of lateral and AP x-ray of the lumbar spine and pelvis. Due to the sagging of abdominal organs and additional gas artefacts in the abdominal aorta in lateral views scarcely any structures were identifiable, in AP views the lumbar spine and pelvic bones were poorly detectable.

Figure 3

The CT imaging quality of the skeletal system was good. With the help of 3-D reconstruction a Pleuritis calcarea found in CT-thorax as well as the positions of pacemaker leads can be illustrated easily for teaching purposes.

Figure 4

Very good quality of sagittal MRI image of the knee joint, skeletal and soft tissue structures are easily identifiable.