{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,30]],"date-time":"2026-09-30T18:31:45Z","timestamp":1790793105073,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":34,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,9,16]],"date-time":"2024-09-16T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1726444800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Radiol."],"abstract":"<jats:p>This article explores the potential of photon-counting computed tomography (CT) in forensic medicine for a range of forensic applications. Photon-counting CT surpasses conventional CT in several key areas. It boasts superior spatial and contrast resolution, enhanced image quality at low x-ray energies, and spectral imaging capabilities that enable more precise material differentiation. These advantages translate to superior visualization of bone structures, foreign bodies, and soft tissues in postmortem examinations. The article discusses the technical principles of photon-counting CT detectors and highlights its potential applications in forensic imaging, including high-resolution virtual autopsies, pediatric forensic CT, trauma analysis, and bone density measurements. Furthermore, advancements in vascular imaging and soft tissue contrast promise to propel CT-based death investigations to an even more prominent role. The article concludes by emphasizing the immense potential of this new technology in forensic medicine and anthropology.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3389\/fradi.2024.1463236","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,9,16]],"date-time":"2024-09-16T09:57:50Z","timestamp":1726480670000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":16,"title":["Photon-counting CT for forensic death investigations\u2014a glance into the future of virtual autopsy"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"4","author":[{"given":"Dominic","family":"Gascho","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,9,16]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"386","DOI":"10.1520\/JFS2002166","article-title":"Virtopsy, a new imaging horizon in forensic pathology: virtual autopsy by postmortem multislice computed tomography (MSCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-a feasibility study","volume":"48","author":"Thali","year":"2003","journal-title":"J Forensic Sci"},{"key":"B2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1305","DOI":"10.1148\/rg.265065001","article-title":"VIRTOPSY: minimally invasive, imaging-guided virtual autopsy","volume":"26","author":"Dirnhofer","year":"2006","journal-title":"Radiographics"},{"key":"B3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"583","DOI":"10.1007\/s12024-014-9555-6","article-title":"Imaging in forensic radiology: an illustrated guide for postmortem computed tomography technique and protocols","volume":"10","author":"Flach","year":"2014","journal-title":"Forensic Sci Med Pathol"},{"key":"B4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"595","DOI":"10.1007\/s12024-020-00300-w","article-title":"Noninvasive 7 tesla MRI of fatal craniocerebral gunshots\u2013a glance into the future of radiologic wound ballistics","volume":"16","author":"Gascho","year":"2020","journal-title":"Forensic Sci Med Pathol"},{"key":"B5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3","DOI":"10.1186\/s41747-020-00198-7","article-title":"7-T MRI for brain virtual autopsy: a proof of concept in comparison to 3-T MRI and CT","volume":"5","author":"Gascho","year":"2021","journal-title":"Eur Radiol Exp"},{"key":"B6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"493","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ajog.2020.04.034","article-title":"Fetal postmortem imaging: an overview of current techniques and future perspectives","volume":"223","author":"Kang","year":"2020","journal-title":"Am J Obstet Gynecol"},{"key":"B7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"60","DOI":"10.1016\/j.forsciint.2012.10.030","article-title":"The role of micro-computed tomography in forensic investigations","volume":"225","author":"Rutty","year":"2013","journal-title":"Forensic Sci Int"},{"key":"B8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"632","DOI":"10.1007\/s00247-022-05517-1","article-title":"Microfocus computed tomography for fetal postmortem imaging: an overview","volume":"53","author":"Docter","year":"2023","journal-title":"Pediatr Radiol"},{"key":"B9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1016\/j.rcl.2008.10.004","article-title":"CT Technology overview: 64-slice and beyond","volume":"47","author":"Rogalla","year":"2009","journal-title":"Radiol Clin North Am"},{"key":"B10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"200422","DOI":"10.1016\/j.fri.2020.200422","article-title":"Postmortem determination of hepatic steatosis. 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