Robert Kurtzman, D.O.

Rocky Mountain Forensic Services, PLLC
Clifton, Colorado, USA

This image is a conventional radiograph of the lungs, trachea, and bronchi of a man who died of complications of SARS-CoV-2, more commonly known as COVID-19, involving the lungs. This image was made to objectively document the severity of the disease involvement using an unconventional technique by placing the lungs directly onto a digital X-Ray plate creating a photogram-like image.

Purpose
The image was made to document the extent of the disease process involving the lungs. The combined lung weight was markedly increased and both lungs were very firm. By first removing the lungs en bloc, and then placing them directly on a digital X-Ray plate, I was able to image only the lungs versus a conventional anterior-posterior view of the chest including the ribs, vertebra, heart, and soft tissue of the chest wall. This novel methodology of imaging the lungs provided detailed objective information of the severity and distribution of disease involvement. The alveolar and interstitial components of the lungs are opacified and the only remaining air that is observed is in the form of an air bronchogram of the trachea and bronchi

Equipment
Conventional X-Ray