A Pilot Study Comparing Postmortem and Antemortem CT for the Identification of Unknowns: Could a Forensic Pathologist...

Area of Science:

• Forensic Radiology
• Medical Imaging
• Human Identification

Background:

• DNA analysis is the gold standard for identifying human remains but is time-consuming and expensive.
• Radiological examination, particularly analog imaging, offers a more cost-effective method for identification in forensic settings.
• Computed tomography (CT) imaging is increasingly adopted in the United States for forensic applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of CT imaging for the visual identification of human remains.
• To assess the feasibility of using antemortem and postmortem CT scans for identification purposes.
• To determine if forensic pathologists with limited CT experience can accurately identify remains using this method.

Main Methods:

• Collected 20 cases with both antemortem and postmortem CT images.
• Conducted a qualitative assessment of the CT images for identification.
• Involved a forensic pathologist and a non-medically trained intern in the assessment process.

Main Results:

• All 20 cases were correctly identified through visual comparison of CT images.
• The identification process was found to be straightforward for the forensic pathologist.
• Limited experience with CT imaging did not impede accurate identification.

Conclusions:

• Visual comparison of antemortem and postmortem CT scans is an effective method for identifying human remains.
• CT imaging provides a valuable, accessible tool for forensic identification, complementing traditional methods.
• Forensic pathologists can readily utilize CT scans for identification, even with minimal prior experience.