ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the utilization of imaging of live and deceased animals in criminal investigations. Each radiographic or imaging study entered into evidence requires an imaging report. In addition to radiography, imaging modalities utilized for medicolegal investigation include ultrasonography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and nuclear scintigraphy and positron emission tomography. Although the field of veterinary forensic radiology and imaging is broad and encompasses any application of imaging to legal questions, including imaging of archaeological specimens and inanimate objects. Radiographic and other imaging studies are useful to identify a wide range of injuries from soft tissue trauma, skeletal trauma, and other evidence of intrathoracic trauma, intra-abdominal trauma, intracranial trauma, projectile trauma, secondary signs of drowning and strangulation, and may assist in differentiating nonaccidental trauma from accidental trauma. Soft tissue injuries are commonly evaluated on radiographs in conjunction with skeletal trauma, although other imaging modalities are better at delineating the extent of soft tissue injury.
