title: Reliability of frontal sinus by cone beam-computed tomography (CBCT) for individual identification.
abstract: Analysis of the frontal sinus is an important tool in personal identification. Cone beam-computed tomography (CBCT) is also progressively replacing conventional radiography and multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) in human identification. The aim of this study is to develop a reproducible technique and measurements from 3D reconstructions obtained with CBCT, for use in human identification. CBCT from 150 patients (91 female, 59 male), aged between 15 and 78 years, was analysed with the specific software program MIMICS 11.11 (Materialise N.V., Leuven, Belgium). Corresponding 3D volumes were generated and maximal dimensions along 3 directions (x, y, z), X M, Y M, Z M (in mm), total volume area (in mm(3)), V t, and total surface (in mm(2)), S t, were calculated. Correlation analysis showed that sinus surfaces were strongly correlated with their volume (r = 0.976). Frontal sinuses were separate in 21 subjects (14 %), fused in 67 (44.6 %) and found on only one side (unilateral) in 9 (6 %). A Prominent Middle of Fused Sinus (PMS) was found in 53 subjects (35.3 %). The intra- (0.963-0.999) and inter-observer variability (0.973-0.999) showed a great agreement and a substantial homogeneity of evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, Unit of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianguido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cossellu
authors.affiliation: AgEstimation Project, Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Macerata, Macerata, Italy. sluca@ugr.es.|, Calle las moreras 77, 28971, Griñón, Madrid, Spain. sluca@ugr.es.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Luca
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, Unit of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Biagi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, Unit of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Giampietro
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Farronato
authors.affiliation: Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Macerata, Macerata, Italy.
authors.forename: Mariano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cingolani
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ferrante
authors.affiliation: AgEstimation Project, Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Macerata, Macerata, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cameriere
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; D005260:Female; D018732:Forensic Anthropology / Q000379:methods*; D005626:Frontal Sinus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
keywords: Cone beam-computed tomography; False negative; Forensic sciences; Frontal sinus; Human identification; Three dimensions