title: [Human identification by comparison if skull roentgen image].
abstract: Comparison of X-rays was found to provide information just as accurate as dactyloscopy for person identification, which is attributable to the high variability of the skeletal system. Reported in this paper is the case of an unknown dead female whose body was found in a condition of advanced decay. That is why conventional methods of criminological identification were not practicable. Only inadequate results were obtained from a muscular sample, while no findings at all were obtainable from DNA analysis of two molars. Identification was achievable only after six months had passed from discovery of the corpse, when two X-rays of the presumed person's skull were retrieved. This case of successful identification has once again provided evidence to the fact that even in our era of DNA research X-ray comparison has retained a firm position in forensic diagnostics.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Rechtsmedizin der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.
authors.forename: Hansjürg
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Strauch
authors.forename: Ingo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Wirth
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Reisinger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001344:Autopsy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D002508:Cephalometry; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting; D005260:Female; D018732:Forensic Anthropology / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005553:Forensic Dentistry; D006801:Humans; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D011859:Radiography; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012886:Skull / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*