Postmortem computed tomography of the skull for human identification based on the morphology of frontal sinuses

Carvalho Y.M., Jacometti V., Franco A., Da Silva R.H.A., Silva R.F

Computed tomography (CT) became an important tool in the armamentarium of Forensic Radiology. Over the last decade, postmortem imaging was broadly used in the search for the cause of death and in human identification. In the latter, frontal sinuses have been increasingly used because of its distinctive and highly immutable morphology. The present study reports a case of human identification through the comparison between antemortem (AM) and postmortem (PM) axial CT images of the frontal sinuses. An adult male victim was referred for human identification with a set of 23 images of the frontal sinuses in axial view. PMCT was performed to reproduce and compare the AM data. Positive identification was achieved based on the analysis of area, shape, septa and lobes of the frontal sinuses. Based on the case report, it can be concluded that Forensic Radiology represents an important branch within the forensic sciences. Forensic experts must be aware of this tool  in order to reach optimal outcomes in human identification – especially those founded on the comparison of frontal sinuses.

1 - Forensic Dentistry Specialization Course, School of Dentistry of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo.

Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.

2 - Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo.

Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.

3 - Area of Oral Imaging, Faculdade São Leopoldo Mandic, Instituto de Pesquisas São Leopoldo Mandic.

Campinas, Brasil.

4 - Department of Dentistry – Forensic Dentistry, Federal University of Goiás. Goiânia, Brazil.

5 - Department of Forensic Odontology and Anthropology, Scientific Police of Goiás. Goiânia, Brazil.

 

Keywords: frontal sinus, computed tomography, forensic dentistry, radiology.

 

Corresponding author: Da Silva R.H.A., e-mail: Этот e-mail адрес защищен от спам-ботов, для его просмотра у Вас должен быть включен Javascript

 

For citation: Carvalho Y.M., Jacometti V., Franco A., Da Silva R.H.A., Silva R.F. Postmortem computed tomography of the skull for human identification based on the morphology of frontal sinuses. REJR 2019; 9(4):170-176. DOI:10.21569/2222-7415-2019-9-4-170-176

.

Received:        27.08.19 Accepted:       28.10.19