Development of a Computer‐Assisted Forensic Radiographic Identification Method Using the Lateral Cervical and Lumbar Spine

Abstract

Medical examiners and coroners (ME/C) in the United States hold statutory responsibility to identify deceased individuals who fall under their jurisdiction. The computer-assisted decedent identification (CADI) project was designed to modify software used in diagnosis and treatment of spinal injuries into a mathematically validated tool for ME/C identification of fleshed decedents. CADI software analyzes the shapes of targeted vertebral bodies imaged in an array of standard radiographs and quantifies the likelihood that any two of the radiographs contain matching vertebral bodies. Six validation tests measured the repeatability, reliability, and sensitivity of the method, and the effects of age, sex, and number of radiographs in array composition. CADI returned a 92-100% success rate in identifying the true matching pair of vertebrae within arrays of five to 30 radiographs. Further development of CADI is expected to produce a novel identification method for use in ME/C offices that is reliable, timely, and cost-effective.

A Test of the DSP Sexing Method on CT Images from a Modern French Sample

“…This approach is most appropriate for a forensic anthropologist to facilitate the decision‐making in post‐Daubert forensic context with importance of precision, accuracy, and reliability . DSP offers solutions for damaged hip bones in cases where it is possible to measure at least four dimensions.…”

Evolution of Forensic Anthropological Methods of Identification

“…The subsequent literature, particularly between 1995 and 2008, is replete with published attempts to find means of extracting diagnostic information directly from skeletal remains via comparison of ante-and postmortem radiographs. Numerous publications describe individual identifications made using radiographic imaging of various parts of the postcranial skeleton including the leg and foot (15), chest (11,16), clavicles (17,18), pelvis (19,20), vertebral column (9,21), and the hand and wrist (6,22), as well as features of the cranium, including the mastoid sinuses (23), nasal sinuses 14, cranial suture patterns (24), frontal sinuses (25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34), and orthopedic/surgical devices from various parts of the body (35,36). Articles discussing the radiographic evaluation of the frontal sinuses in personal identification have been published on several occasions (25,27,28,37,38).…”

“…Derrick et al describe an automated method for comparison of lateral images of the cervical spine that was mathematically validated for use by medical examiner's/coroner's offices (9). The software quantifies the likelihood that any two of the radiographs in an array of cervical spine images (Image 4) contain matching vertebral body morphology.…”

“…Recognition by forensic anthropologists of the need for standardized, validated methods for identification predates the NAS report (4)(5)(6), as does much of the research aimed at validation of anthropological methods of identification. Anthropologists have continued to contribute to this discussion since the NAS report was published (7)(8)(9)(10)(11).…”

Virtual anthropology – a brief review of the literature and history of computed tomography

“…Furthermore, Derrick et al. [ 58 ] have modified software used in spine injury diagnosis to identify vertebrae in ante- and post-mortem comparisons of radiographs. Plain radiography is inexpensive and easy to use, and methods specific to forensic radiography are still being developed.…”