title: Identification using frontal sinus by three-dimensional reconstruction from computed tomography.
abstract: Radiographs and computed tomography (CT) images have been increasingly applied and accepted in forensic sciences. Along with radiographs and CT images, the frontal sinus is often used for the individual identification because of its unique and unchangeable characteristics. The purpose of this study is to define the usefulness of three-dimensional (3-D) images of the frontal sinus for identification. CT images from 119 Korean cadavers were built up for 3-D reconstruction and surveyed with 15 measurements. The total volume of the sinus, some nonmetric characteristics, and the bilateral asymmetry index in men differed significantly from those in women (p < 0.05). The digit codes, six sections and 10-digit number, were almost able to accurately identify individuals (98%). This study showed a statistical difference between the sexes and classified the fused and prominent middle sinuses for the first time. This proposed method for identification is more accurate than those used in other studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Catholic Institute for Applied Anatomy, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 505, Banpo-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul 137701, Korea.
authors.forename: Deog-Im
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: U-Young
authors.initials: UY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sang-Ouk
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Dae-Soon
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Kwak
authors.forename: Seung-Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People; D005260:Female; D018732:Forensic Anthropology; D005626:Frontal Sinus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D055815:Young Adult