Radiodiagnostic and Molecular Innovation in Personal Identification

Abstract

The forensic radiological examination permits identity to be attributed to individual bodies in the context of molecular or odontological data that is unavailable or not readily accessible. Among the proposed techniques, post-mortem computed tomography (PMCT) allows the rapid and non-invasive acquisition of illimitably consultable multiple data, even in the identification of multiple bodies (e.g., mass disasters). Radiological assessments are mostly centered on the comparison of ante and post-mortem aspects, these latter representing the main factor determining the choice of the examination methodology, applicable to the determination of the biological profile, in particular age and gender. The absence of a consensual qualitative-quantitative criterion in the definition of identity and the inferential problems of virtual anthropological studies raise questions of reliability and scientific validity. In light of the promising role of forensic radiological techniques in intra-vitam and post mortem personal identification, the limits and applicative perspectives of which are presented and discussed in this paper, a multi-disciplinary collaboration, also aimed at training experts in the field, is advisable.