The current state of using post-mortem computed tomography for personal identification beyond odontology - A...

Individual identification of unknown deceased is a vital function carried out by medical professionals, thus many tools have been developed or tested towards its end. One of the tools tested and still being tested is post-mortem computed tomography [PMCT]. This review aims to summarise the current state of using PMCT for personal identification beyond odontology. We found that most medicolegal researchers had a positive view of using PMCT for individual identification or for disaster victim identification. They have shown PMCT scans can be compared with a wide range of AM material - ante-mortem computed tomography [AMCT] scans, AM radiographs, or even textual AM medical history - for a successful identification. The use of textual medical history suggests the potential to create an artificial intelligence model that could quickly highlight areas of comparison. Anatomical body structures, pathological changes, or foreign bodies provide bases of comparison when using PMCT for individual identification. We found most (79 %) researchers have used qualitative methods to compare PMCT with AM material. Likewise, researchers so far have focussed on the axial skeleton (sans pelvis) when testing the viability of comparing specific body structures between AM material and PMCT scans. More body structures remain to be tested for their viability in personal identification, especially using quantitative methods.