Biomaterial Database

Validity of postmortem computed tomography for use in forensic odontology identification casework. 2024

Sharon Maley, and Denice Higgins

Forensic Odontology Unit, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia. sharon.maley21@gmail.com.

Forensic Odontology (FO) identification compares antemortem (AM) and postmortem (PM) dental datasets and is widely accepted as a primary identifier. Traditionally, a PM dental examination is undertaken in the same manner as a dental examination conducted for a living patient. Recently, the increased forensic application of computed tomography (CT) offers an alternative source of PM data. While charting from PMCT is widely accepted as less accurate, the impact on reconciliation is unknown. This study aims to determine if reconciliation outcome differs when PM dental data is collected from PMCT, compared with conventional PM examination. PMCT data was reviewed for 21 cases previously completed using conventional PM dental examination. Operators blinded to original identification outcomes charted from CT images before comparing to AM data to form an opinion regarding identity. Opinions formed were compared with original identification outcomes. Differences in PM dental charting between the two methods and the evidentiary value of AM and PM datasets were assessed to determine driving factors of differences in identification outcome. Compared to conventional PM dental examination, PMCT examination resulted in similar or less certain identification outcomes. Discrepancies in outcome were driven by the quality of AM and PM datasets rather than inaccuracies in charting from PMCT. Based on the results of this study, both conventional and PMCT methods of PM dental examination can reach similar identification outcomes. However, operators remained more certain in establishing identity when conducting conventional PM dental examinations especially when AM data was lacking.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D005553	Forensic Dentistry	The application of dental knowledge to questions of law.	Dentistry, Forensic
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000097873	Postmortem Imaging	The generation of images of the body's structures, organs, and tissues after death.	Post-Mortem CT,Post-Mortem CT Imaging,Post-Mortem Computed Tomography,Post-Mortem Computed Tomography Imaging,Post-Mortem Imaging,Post-Mortem MRI,Post-Mortem Magnetic Resonance Imaging,Post-Mortem Radiological Imaging,Postmortem CT,Postmortem CT Imaging,Postmortem Computed Tomography,Postmortem Computed Tomography Imaging,Postmortem MRI,Postmortem Magnetic Resonance Imaging,Postmortem Radiological Imaging,CT Imaging, Post-Mortem,CT Imaging, Postmortem,CT Imagings, Post-Mortem,CT Imagings, Postmortem,CT, Post-Mortem,CT, Postmortem,CTs, Post-Mortem,CTs, Postmortem,Computed Tomographies, Post-Mortem,Computed Tomographies, Postmortem,Computed Tomography, Post-Mortem,Computed Tomography, Postmortem,Imaging, Post-Mortem,Imaging, Post-Mortem CT,Imaging, Post-Mortem Radiological,Imaging, Postmortem,Imaging, Postmortem CT,Imaging, Postmortem Radiological,Imagings, Post-Mortem,Imagings, Post-Mortem CT,Imagings, Post-Mortem Radiological,Imagings, Postmortem,Imagings, Postmortem CT,Imagings, Postmortem Radiological,MRI, Post-Mortem,MRI, Postmortem,MRIs, Post-Mortem,MRIs, Postmortem,Post Mortem CT,Post Mortem CT Imaging,Post Mortem Computed Tomography,Post Mortem Computed Tomography Imaging,Post Mortem Imaging,Post Mortem MRI,Post Mortem Magnetic Resonance Imaging,Post Mortem Radiological Imaging,Post-Mortem CT Imagings,Post-Mortem CTs,Post-Mortem Computed Tomographies,Post-Mortem Imagings,Post-Mortem MRIs,Post-Mortem Radiological Imagings,Postmortem CT Imagings,Postmortem CTs,Postmortem Computed Tomographies,Postmortem Imagings,Postmortem MRIs,Postmortem Radiological Imagings,Radiological Imaging, Post-Mortem,Radiological Imaging, Postmortem,Radiological Imagings, Post-Mortem,Radiological Imagings, Postmortem,Tomographies, Post-Mortem Computed,Tomographies, Postmortem Computed,Tomography, Post-Mortem Computed,Tomography, Postmortem Computed
D001344	Autopsy	Postmortem examination of the body.	Autopsies,Post-Mortem Examination,Postmortem Examination,Examination, Post-Mortem,Examination, Postmortem,Examinations, Post-Mortem,Examinations, Postmortem,Post Mortem Examination,Post-Mortem Examinations,Postmortem Examinations
D014057	Tomography, X-Ray Computed	Tomography using x-ray transmission and a computer algorithm to reconstruct the image.	CAT Scan, X-Ray,CT Scan, X-Ray,Cine-CT,Computerized Tomography, X-Ray,Electron Beam Computed Tomography,Tomodensitometry,Tomography, Transmission Computed,X-Ray Tomography, Computed,CAT Scan, X Ray,CT X Ray,Computed Tomography, X-Ray,Computed X Ray Tomography,Computerized Tomography, X Ray,Electron Beam Tomography,Tomography, X Ray Computed,Tomography, X-Ray Computer Assisted,Tomography, X-Ray Computerized,Tomography, X-Ray Computerized Axial,Tomography, Xray Computed,X Ray Computerized Tomography,X Ray Tomography, Computed,X-Ray Computer Assisted Tomography,X-Ray Computerized Axial Tomography,Beam Tomography, Electron,CAT Scans, X-Ray,CT Scan, X Ray,CT Scans, X-Ray,CT X Rays,Cine CT,Computed Tomography, Transmission,Computed Tomography, X Ray,Computed Tomography, Xray,Computed X-Ray Tomography,Scan, X-Ray CAT,Scan, X-Ray CT,Scans, X-Ray CAT,Scans, X-Ray CT,Tomographies, Computed X-Ray,Tomography, Computed X-Ray,Tomography, Electron Beam,Tomography, X Ray Computer Assisted,Tomography, X Ray Computerized,Tomography, X Ray Computerized Axial,Transmission Computed Tomography,X Ray Computer Assisted Tomography,X Ray Computerized Axial Tomography,X Ray, CT,X Rays, CT,X-Ray CAT Scan,X-Ray CAT Scans,X-Ray CT Scan,X-Ray CT Scans,X-Ray Computed Tomography,X-Ray Computerized Tomography,Xray Computed Tomography