A Feasibility Study of Virtopsy With Tissue Sampling in Besancon University Hospital

A Feasibility Study of Virtopsy With Tissue Sampling in Besancon University Hospital

The aim of this project is to assess the feasibility of a new local post mortem procedure at Besançon University Hospital : Virtopsy+, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with tissue sampling of the fetus and newborns.

Minimally invasive autopsy is an alternative for conventional autopsy including post mortem magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and tissues samplings.

Because of the raise of parental refusal of autopsy, we intend to assess the local feasibility of a minimally invasive autopsy approach using post mortem MR imaging of fetuses and newborns in order to detect the major pathological abnormalities and/or to determinate the cause of death.

Inclusion Criteria:

• stillbirth and fetal deaths over 21 weeks of gestation
• termination of pregnancy over 21 weeks of gestation
• neonatal death
• patient having read the letter of information and signed the consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• legal incapacity
• limited ability to consent
• lack of parental consent