To see or not to see – Ambiguous findings on post-mortem cross-sectional imaging in a case of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm

We present a case of a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) with ambiguous accessory findings on post-mortem computed-tomography (PMCT), post-mortem magnetic resonance (PMMR) imaging, and PMCT-angiography (PMCTA) suggestive of thoracic aortic dissection. The diagnosis of ruptured AAA was confirmed by autopsy; however, there was no aortic dissection. The imaging findings that mimicked the presence of aortic dissection might have been an atypical presentation of post-mortem clotting or sedimentation. This case is an ideal example to illustrate benefits, limitations, and challenges of post-mortem cross-sectional imaging. It serves as a reminder that both, training as well as correlation of imaging findings with autopsy are fundamental to improve our understanding of radiologic findings on post-mortem cross-sectional imaging.

When to see a doctor for common health problems: distribution patterns of functional health literacy across migrant populations in Switzerland

BACKGROUND Knowing when to seek professional help for health problems is considered an important aspect of health literacy. However, little is known about the distribution of help-seeking knowledge in the general population or specific subpopulations. METHODS We analysed data from the "Health Monitoring of the Swiss Migrant Population 2010" and used a short survey tool to study the distribution of help-seeking knowledge. We sampled members of four migrant groups (from Portugal, Turkey, Serbia and Kosovo; n = 2,614). Our tool contained 12 items that addressed common physical and psychological health problems. A total sum score measured help-seeking knowledge. Two sub-scores analysed knowledge related to potential overuse (minor symptoms) or potential underuse (major symptoms). We applied linear regression to show variations in help-seeking knowledge by age, sex, region of origin and length of stay. RESULTS Controlling for self-rated health, we found that region of origin, higher education, female gender and younger age were significantly associated with higher knowledge scores. CONCLUSIONS We present empirical evidence of unequal distribution of help-seeking knowledge across four migrant populations in Switzerland. Our findings contribute to current conceptual developments in health literacy, and provide starting points for future research.