Human identification through frontal sinus 3D superimposition: Pilot study with Cone Beam Computer Tomography.

Area of Science:

• Forensic Anthropology
• Medical Imaging
• Anatomical Identification

Background:

• Frontal sinus morphology is a unique human anatomical feature used in forensic identification.
• Traditional methods primarily rely on 2D postero-anterior X-rays.
• The increasing availability of Cone-Beam Computer Tomography (CBCT) necessitates exploring its use for ante-mortem records.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a novel technique for frontal sinus identification.
• To utilize direct superimposition of 3D volumetric models derived from CBCT scans.
• To evaluate the accuracy and reproducibility of this 3D identification method.

Main Methods:

• Rendering 3D frontal sinus models from 20 CBCT exams using InVesallius(®).
• Positioning and comparing models using Mesh Lab(®) and CloudCompare.
• Conducting a reproducibility test with two independent observers and a validation test on three individuals.

Main Results:

• Both observers achieved 100% accuracy in matching frontal sinus models.
• The technique demonstrated a high level of coincidence in identification scenarios.
• The study confirmed the remarkable uniqueness of frontal sinus topography.

Conclusions:

• The described 3D superimposition technique using CBCT is a reliable method for frontal sinus identification.
• This method can be effectively employed in forensic investigations when ante-mortem CBCT data is available.
• The uniqueness of frontal sinus topography supports its use as a robust identification marker.