Abstract
The frontal sinuses play a highly relevant role in comparative human identification processes. Since forensic radiology is a branch in the forensic sciences, adequate radiological analysis of the frontal sinuses is essential for comparative human identifications. The current study investigates radiographic morphological changes in the frontal sinuses according to vertical angle distortions in posteroanterior (PA) radiographs. A standard PA radiograph of the skull of an adult was obtained. Eight addition PA radiographs were taken at different vertical angles. Frontal sinuses were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively according to Ribeiros (2000) technique. Both qualitative and quantitative analyses revealed significant image distortions. Further, overlapping anatomical structures were reported when PA radiographs were analyzed in negative angulation distortions (from -10° to -40°). Positive and negative angular distortions up to 20o slightly affected the qualitative morphological analysis. However, 10° positive and negative distortions provided a significant interference in quantitative analysis and impaired the measuring process. Most forensic techniques for the analysis of frontal sinuses comprise measurements of morphological distances. Distortions of approximately 10° or over in vertical angulation of cranial PA radiographs should be avoided so that more accurate comparative human identifications could be achieved.
Highlights
Forensic radiological analysis is a common procedure in human identifications, in cases of carbonized and putrefied bodies and skeletal remains (ARBENZ, 1988; VANRELL, 2009)
When negative angle distortions were taken into account, only interval 10° presented the same number of lobes and septa if compared to the standard PA radiograph
Angle intervals between -20° and -40° severely distorted the image, without any positive identification
Summary
Forensic radiological analysis is a common procedure in human identifications, in cases of carbonized and putrefied bodies and skeletal remains (ARBENZ, 1988; VANRELL, 2009). Several anatomical areas of the body, such as the arms, forearms, chest and skull, provide valuable identification information through radiological analysis (CAMERIERI et al, 2005; KAHANA; HISS, 1999; SILVA et al, 2007; WOOD, 2008). There are four pairs of paranasal sinuses of forensic interest in the skull, namely, frontal, maxillary, sphenoidal and ethmoidal sinuses (NAMBIAR et al, 1999). The morphology of the frontal pairs may be clearly observed on posteroanterior radiographs. Caldwell’s technique, which consists of supporting the head or skull in a horizontal plane, and enabling an adequate view for morphological analysis, is applicable to standardize PA imaging acquisition Caldwell’s technique, which consists of supporting the head or skull in a horizontal plane, and enabling an adequate view for morphological analysis, is applicable to standardize PA imaging acquisition (CAMARGO JR. et al, 2007)
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