Gross Heart Dimensions From Postmortem Computed Tomography and Postmortem Examination Measurements

An increased heart weight (cardiac hypertrophy) is associated with underlying heart disease and sudden cardiac death. Gross heart dimensions can be used to estimate heart weight as a surrogate for cardiac hypertrophy. These dimensions can be obtained from either postmortem computed tomography or postmortem examination. This study compared the gross heart dimensions, heart weight estimations, and ability to determine cardiac hypertrophy (>400 and >500 g) between these 2 methods. The results showed that gross dimensions from postmortem computed tomography were significantly smaller and overall had less accuracy in estimating heart weight than dissection. In terms of cardiac hypertrophy, both methods were comparable and had reasonably high sensitivity and specificity, albeit having slightly varied characteristics, to determine whether the heart showed hypertrophy.