title: Ankh in the depth - Subdermal 3D art implants: Radiological identification with body modification.
abstract: One of the core tasks in forensic medico-legal investigations is the identification of the deceased. Radiological identification using postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) is a powerful technique. In general, the implementation of forensic PMCT is rising worldwide. In addition to specific anatomical structures, medical implants or prostheses serve as markers for the comparison of antemortem and postmortem images to identify the deceased. However, non-medical implants, such as subdermal three-dimensional (3D) art implants, also allow for radiological identification. These implants are a type of body modification that have become increasingly popular over the last several decades and will therefore be employed more frequently in radiological identification in the future. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of radiological identification with a subdermal 3D art implant. Further, the present case shows the characteristics of a silicone 3D art implant on computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and X-rays.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine and Imaging, Zurich Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190/52, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland. Electronic address: sarah.shaerli@irm.uzh.ch.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schaerli
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine and Imaging, Zurich Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190/52, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine and Imaging, Zurich Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190/52, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Thali
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine and Imaging, Zurich Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190/52, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland. Electronic address: dominic.gascho@irm.uzh.ch.
authors.forename: Dominic
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gascho
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001344:Autopsy / Q000379:methods*; D018732:Forensic Anthropology / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D012828:Silicones; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014965:X-Rays
chemical_list: D012828:Silicones
keywords: 3D art implants; Ankh; Body modification; PMCT; Postmortem imaging; Radiological identification