title: Positive identification by a skull with multiple epigenetic traits and abnormal structure of the neurocranium, viscerocranium, and the skeleton.
abstract: Wormian bones are small ossicles appearing within the cranial sutures in more than 40% of skulls, most commonly at the lambdoid suture and pterion. During the skeletal analysis of an unidentified male war victim, we observed multiple wormian bones and a patent metopic suture. Additionally, the right elbow was deformed, probably as a consequence of an old trauma. The skull was analyzed by cranial measurements and computerized tomography, revealing the presence of cranial deformities including hyperbrachicrania, localized reduction in hemispheral widths, increased cranial capacity, and sclerosis of the viscerocranium. Besides unique anatomical features and their anthropological value, such skeletal abnormalities also have a forensic value as the evidence to support the final identification of the victim.
authors.affiliation: University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Jadranska 24, Zagreb HR-10000, Croatia. ovan7@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Josip
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kuharić
authors.forename: Natasa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kovacic
authors.forename: Petar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marusic
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marusic
authors.forename: Vedrana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Petrovecki
mesh_terms: D050280:Arm Bones / Q000473:pathology; D002508:Cephalometry; D003393:Cranial Sutures / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D017523:Croatia; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000473:pathology; D018732:Forensic Anthropology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008443:Maxillary Sinus / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D054850:Osteophyte / Q000473:pathology; D012598:Sclerosis; D012886:Skull / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D000092464:Elbow Injuries