Optical and Digital Techniques for Enhancing Radiographic Anatomy for Identification of Human Remains

Abstract

Out of a total of more than 300 radiographic identifications made by one of us (JJF), there were 11 cases in which radiologic adjuncts were used because the antemortem radiographs were either miniaturized or because anatomical landmarks could not be clearly discerned. The techniques used included slide projection (two cases), photographic enlargement and enhancement (two cases), digitization (three cases), and digitization with computer enhancement (three cases), commercial digitization (one case). In a 12th case, where identification was made by comparison of antemortem and postmortem film X-rays, the films were digitized as a further evaluation of a commercial system. This is the first reported use of these techniques.

Skeletal Identification by Radiographic Comparison: Blind Tests of a Morphoscopic Method Using Antemortem Chest Radiographs*,†,‡

“…Examiners compared their PM images with the AM radiographs to make identifications on the basis of correspondence in osseous structures, as widely commented on in the literature (see [5][6][7][8]15,[30][31][32][33][34][35] or for reviews [8,30,31]). As made clear to all examiners, this included overall bone shape, patterns of cortical density and thickness, trabecular morphology, and fossae presence ⁄ shape ⁄ density.…”

Forensic aspects of maxillofacial radiology

“…Few mass disasters are handled using dental office quality lead shielding and it is important that radiation safety aspects of gathering post mortem data be adequate. It is possible to ''rescue'' sub-optimal radiographs [20]; however, the time to do this is not in the middle of a DVI incident.…”

Manipulated radiographic material - capability and risk for the forensic consultant?

“…Whereas a number of authors [4,6,11] see only advantages, others have expressed criticism [16,19,20,23,24]. When comparing X-rays, digital distortion is not an admissible means of postmortem reconstruction of intravital radiological parameters.…”