The forensic importance of frontal sinus radiographs

Abstract The identification of unidentified human remains through the comparison of antemortem and postmortem radiographs has found wide acceptance in recent years. Reported here is the forensic case of an unidentified adult male who had died as the result of a traffic accident, after which the body...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of forensic and legal medicine 2009-01, Vol.16 (1), p.18-23
Main Authors: da Silva, Rhonan Ferreira, DDS, MSc (Forensic Expert), Prado, Felippe Bevilacqua, DDS, Caputo, Isamara Geandra Cavalcanti, DDS, Devito, Karina Lopes, DDS, PhD (Professor), Botelho, Tessa de Luscena, DDS, MSc (Professor), Júnior, Eduardo Daruge, DDS, PhD (Professor)
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Accidents, Traffic
Adult
Exhumation
Forensic anthropology
Forensic Medicine
Frontal sinus
Frontal Sinus - diagnostic imaging
Humans
Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
Male
Pathology
Radiography
Victim identification
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Summary:Abstract The identification of unidentified human remains through the comparison of antemortem and postmortem radiographs has found wide acceptance in recent years. Reported here is the forensic case of an unidentified adult male who had died as the result of a traffic accident, after which the body was identified by matching images of ante- and postmortem radiographs of the frontal sinus. A general discussion on identification using frontal sinus radiographs is presented, highlighting the reliability of this method, in reference to the uniqueness of the frontal sinus in humans. However, it also notes a few difficulties, especially in reference to the X-ray technique in cases where antemortem radiographs are available and a potentially larger number of anatomical, pathological or traumatic features are present. The comparison of frontal sinus outlines is recommended when it may become necessary to provide quantitative substantiation for forensic identification based on these structures.
ISSN:1752-928X
1878-7487
DOI:10.1016/j.jflm.2008.05.016