  Estimating early postmortem interval EPI is a difficult task in daily
forensic activity due to limitations of accurate and reliable methods. The aim
of the present work is to describe a novel approach in the estimation of EPI
based on quantitative magnetic resonance molecular imaging qMRMI using a pig
phantom since post mortem degradation of pig meat is similar to that of human
muscles. On a pig phantom maintained at 20 degree, using a 1.5 T MRI scanner we
performed 10 scans, every 4 hours, monitoring apparent diffusion coefficient
ADC, fractional anisotropy FA, magnetization transfer ration MTR, tractography
and susceptibility weighted changes in muscles until 36 hours after death.
Cooling of the phantom during the experiment was recorded. Histology was also
obtained. Pearson's Test was carried out for statistical correlation. We found
a significative statistical inverse correlation between ADC, FA, MT and PMI.
Our preliminary data shows that post mortem qMRMI is a potential powerful tool
in accurately determining EPI and is worth of further investigation.
