Human Identification by Comparative Analysis of Frontal Sinuses: Study on Computed Tomography

Vanessa Moreira Andrade; Stéfany de Lima Gomes; Viviane Ulbricht; Cristhiane Martins Schmidt; Rafael Araújo; Carlos Alberto Sassi Etchegoyen; Francisco Haiter Neto; Ricardo Tedeschi Matos; Evandro von Zuben Previtali; Eduardo Daruge Junior & Luiz Francesquini Junior

Summary

Generally, primary methods of identification as the fingerprint analysis, dental analysis or DNA examination are indicated for the establishment of the identity of a corpse. In situations with poor body conservation, such as in advanced stage of putrefaction or skeletonization, imaging exams like medical and dental computed tomography can assist in the process of identification. The frontal sinuses present anatomical characteristics that allow the establishment of the identity of an individual. In this case report we used the technique of three-dimensional construction of the frontal sinuses through the generation of solid figures representative of the sinus morphology. After the comparative analysis of the antemortem and postmortem tomography of the alleged victim, we could establish similarities in both the variations in size, shape, symmetry and contour of borders, and the presence and number of septa, allowing us to infer that the two images described belong to the same individual, thus establishing the identity of the corpse found.

KEY WORDS: forensic anthropology, cone-beam computed tomography, skull, frontal sinus.

How to cite this article

ANDRADE, V. M.; GOMES, S. L.; ULBRICHT, V.; SCHMIDT, C. M.; ARAÚJO, R.; ETCHEGOYEN, CARLOS A. S.; NETO, F. H.; MATOS, R. T.; PREVITALI, E. V. Z.; DARUGE JUNIOR, E. & FRANCESQUINI JUNIOR, L. Human identification by comparative analysis of frontal sinuses: study on computed tomography. Int. J. Odontostomat., 16(3):352-358, 2022.