Cet.Ct-Bank: Digital CT Image Dataset of Stranded Cetaceans in the Canary Islands for Morphological and Forensic Research

Abstract

This dataset, titled Cet.Ct-Bank, contains DICOM-format computed tomography (CT) scans of various cetacean species that stranded dead along the coasts of the Canary Islands. The data were collected as part of a research initiative led by the University Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA-ULPGC), aiming to innovate in veterinary forensic science through the integration of radiological imaging and necropsy findings.

The CT scans are intended for use with DICOM-compatible viewers such as 3D Slicer, and include tomographic sections and 3D reconstructions of skeletal structures. Each case is linked to biological and pathological data, enabling comparative anatomical studies and post-mortem diagnostics. This repository supports the development of the Complete Standardized Virtopsy concept and lays the foundation for future applications of artificial intelligence in cetacean image analysis.