Application of postmortem 3D-CT facial reconstruction for personal identification.
Postmortem computed tomography (CT) images can show internal findings related to the cause of death, and it can be a useful method for forensic diagnosis. In this study, we scanned a ready-made box by helical CT on 2-mm slices in a mobile CT scanner and measured each side of the box to assess whether reconstructed images are useful for superimposition. The mean difference between the actual measurements and the measurements on the three-dimensional (3D) reconstructed images (3D-CT images) is 0.9 mm; we regarded it as having no effect on reconstruction for the superimposition method. Furthermore, we could get 3D-CT images of the skull, which were consistent with the actual skull, indicating that CT images can be applied to superimposition for identification. This study suggested that postmortem CT images can be applied as superimpositions for unidentified cases, and thinner slices or cone beam CT can be a more precise tool.
Sakuma
Ayaka
A
Department of Legal Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8670, Japan. a.sakuma@graduate.chiba-u.jp
Ishii
Masuko
M
Yamamoto
Seiji
S
Shimofusa
Ryota
R
Kobayashi
Kazuhiro
K
Motani
Hisako
H
Hayakawa
Mutsumi
M
Yajima
Daisuke
D
Takeichi
Hisako
H
Iwase
Hirotaro
H
D002056:Burns; D004332:Drowning; D018732:Forensic Anthropology / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D009106:Mummies; D012886:Skull / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed