Disaster Victim Identification Process Research Articles

Advances in postmortem fingerprinting: Applications in disaster victim identification.

Postmortem fingerprinting is the fastest and most reliable way to scientifically identify unknown decedents from mass fatality incidents. In disaster victim identification (DVI), fingerprints, DNA, and dental examinations are the three primary methods of identification. Additional secondary identifiers such as comparative medical radiography, scars, marks, and tattoos can also be used if viable antemortem information can be located. As DNA technology continues to evolve, RAPID DNA may now identify a profile within 90 min if the remains are not degraded or comingled. When there are true unknowns, however, there is usually no DNA, dental, or medical records to retrieve for a comparison without a tentative identity. It is imperative to understand how to properly collect postmortem prints following various postmortem changes, which databases are available to search against, and what additional resources are available prior to any such event occurring. With advances in technology, automated fingerprint searching is faster than ever before. Mobile devices can now search all the major databases within a matter of minutes from a cell phone or tablet utilizing a peripheral fingerprint scanner. Preliminary research into the application of WD-40® when utilizing optical-capacitive scanners has shown to greatly increase the efficacy of capturing usable fingerprints. This additional step allows for the digital capture of fingerprints in even complicated settings, both in daily cases and DVI incidents. This article outlines all the available ways to obtain postmortem fingerprints in complex cases, and how they can be applied to efficiently and effectively used in the DVI process.

Forensic odontology in DVI-A path forward.

Dental identification is a pillar of disaster victim identification (DVI). Dental identification is accurate, efficient, inexpensive, and accepted in courts of law. The (known) antemortem (AM) dental charts and radiographic images acquired from the dentist of the missing person are evaluated, processed, and compared to post mortem (PM) findings present in the dentition or fragments of the dentition of the deceased individual. These comparisons evaluate and assess individuating restorative dental work, dental anatomical areas of concordance, spatial relationships of teeth one to another, and occasionally calculate the degree of "uniqueness" of either or both of the AM and PM dentition compared to known population databases. In a multiple fatality incident, odontologists may utilize age stratification to assist other means of identification. Computer comparison algorithms using recorded data can indicate possible matches between AM and PM data sets. Following clinical assessment, collection of post mortem tooth specimens for DNA profiling generation may be undertaken. This paper will highlight modern and efficient use of these tools. The framework for how dental identification in these incidents is currently managed is presented. The authors propose a change to this approach that moves away from interpretive subjective assessment toward comparisons based largely on objective data. The aim of this paper is to highlight the benefits of minimizing subjective decisions and maximizing objective data in the dental DVI process while simultaneously reducing risk to clinical personnel and minimizing costs by reducing the number of clinicians required onsite.

Exploring technologies to better link physical evidence and digital information for disaster victim identification

Disaster victim identification (DVI) entails a protracted process of evidence collection and data matching to reconcile physical remains with victim identity. Technology is critical to DVI by enabling the linkage of physical evidence to information. However, labelling physical remains and collecting data at the scene are dominated by low-technology paper-based practices. We ask, how can technology help us tag and track the victims of disaster? Our response to this question has two parts. First, we conducted a human–computer interaction led investigation into the systematic factors impacting DVI tagging and tracking processes. Through interviews with Australian DVI practitioners, we explored how technologies to improve linkage might fit with prevailing work practices and preferences; practical and social considerations; and existing systems and processes. We focused on tagging and tracking activities throughout the DVI process. Using insights from these interviews and relevant literature, we identified four critical themes: protocols and training; stress and stressors; the plurality of information capture and management systems; and practicalities and constraints. Second, these findings were iteratively discussed by the authors, who have combined expertise across electronics, data science, cybersecurity, human–computer interaction and forensic pathology. We applied the themes identified in the first part of the investigation to critically review technologies that could support DVI practitioners by enhancing DVI processes that link physical evidence to information. This resulted in an overview of candidate technologies matched with consideration of their key attributes. This study recognises the importance of considering human factors that can affect technology adoption into existing practices. Consequently, we provide a searchable table (as Supplementary information) that relates technologies to the key considerations and attributes relevant to DVI practice, for readers to apply to their own context. While this research directly contributes to DVI, it also has applications to other domains in which a physical/digital linkage is required, and particularly within high stress environments with little room for error. Key points: Disaster victim identification (DVI) processes require us to link physical evidence and digital information. While technology could improve this linkage, experience shows that technological “solutions” are not always adopted in practice. Our study of the practices, preferences and contexts of Australian DVI practitioners suggests 10 critical considerations for these technologies. We review and evaluate 44 candidate technologies against these considerations and highlight the role of human factors in adoption.

Forensic Medicine: A source and pathway of recognition in disaster victim identification

A mass fatality is commonly construed as a hazardous event resulting in a large number of martyr victims who needs to be identified and subjected to medico legal investigation. During the hazardous consequences of mass fatality incident, it is a necessity to identify the accused sensitively so as to provide judicial assurance and a support to the family members. DVI (Disaster victim identification) team work in an interdisciplinary manner, engaging the services of experts in various disciplines, comprising of forensic medicine, pathologists, anthropologists, odontologists, radiologists, fingerprint and DNA experts to substitute the work in the examination of victims. In accordance to the internationally recognized INTERPOL (International police) DVI guide, the basic quality of standards should be applied and victims must be treated with dignity and respect. This paper focuses on the dynamic applications and significance of forensic medicine which acts as an efficient source of recognition, particularly in the DVI process in setting up a procedure for temporary controlled burial for all the unidentified remains. Different case studies included in this paper reveals the fact that the extensive field of forensic medicine provides a pathway in linking the victims and managing the fatality. Further the reviews relating this field are incorporated in this domain.

Dental identification using 3D printed teeth following a mass fatality incident

• Forensic odontology remains at the forefront of the disaster victim identification (DVI) process following mass fatality incidents. • Post-mortem CT scanning has become established as part of the DVI process, and the scan data can be used in a variety of ways including 3D printing. • A case is presented where a 3D printed model of the dentition of a deceased individual enabled successful identification without resorting to disfiguring facial incisions in a charred body. Following a mass fatality event there is a requirement to establish the identities of the deceased individuals as quickly as possible, but with sufficient certainty. Comparison of post-mortem dentition with ante-mortem records remains one of the most cost-effective methods of achieving this reliably and in a timely manner. The relatively recent introduction of post-mortem CT scanning into the Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) environment has brought with it an abundance of additional detailed information that can be used in a variety of novel ways. Here we present a case where 3D printing was used to produce a model of a victim's dentition, enabling confident odontological identification without resorting to disfiguring incisions in a charred body. On-site access to a 3D printer of sufficient quality meant that there was no significant delay in the identification process, and the cost of consumables used to manufacture the model totalled less than £1.

The Estimation of Stature from the Tarsals: Enhancing the Disaster Victim Identification Process in Thailand Using the Calcaneus and the Talus

The impact of climate change is estimated to be particularly severe in Thailand, where climate change events are predicted to increase in both frequency and severity, resulting in a higher number of deaths in the region. Therefore, there is an urgent need for population-specific methodologies for the identification of unknown human remains in Thailand. The current study focuses on the calcaneus and the talus to establish an accurate method of living stature estimation for a contemporary Thai sample. Paired calcanei and tali of 233 skeletonized individuals, ranging from 19 to 96 years of age, were studied from the Chiang Mai skeletal collection. Nine measurements were collected from each calcaneus, and one measurement was collected from each talus. Sexes were pooled; all measurements of the calcaneus and the talus exhibit sexual dimorphism. Regression equations of the calcaneus and the talus, generated from other samples, were found to be inaccurate predictors of stature when applied to the contemporary Thai sample. Therefore, population-specific regression equations are recommended. The results of the current study will contribute to estimating living stature of unknown contemporary Thai individuals and will assist in cases such as natural disasters where more accurate predictors of living stature, such as long bones, are unavailable.

Remote post-mortem radiology reporting in disaster victim identification: experience gained in the 2017 Grenfell Tower disaster

On 14 June 2017 at 00:54 h, the worst residential fire since the conclusion of the Second World War broke out in Flat 16, 4th floor of the 24-storey residential Grenfell Tower Block of flats, North Kensington, West London, UK. Seventy-one adults and children died, including one stillbirth. All victims of the Grenfell Tower disaster who died at the scene underwent post-mortem computed tomography (PMCT) imaging using a mortuary-sited mobile computed tomography scanner. For the first time, to the authors’ knowledge, the disaster victim identification (DVI) radiology reporting was undertaken remote to the mortuary scanning. Over an 11-week period, 119 scans were undertaken on 16 days, with up to 18 scans a day. These were delivered to a remote reporting centre at Leicester on 13 days with between 2 and 20 scans arriving each day. Using a disaster-specific process pathway, a team of 4 reporters, with 3 support staff members, trialled a prototype INTERPOL DVI radiology reporting form and produced full radiology reports and supporting image datasets such that they were able to provide 96% of prototype DVI forms, 99% of image datasets and 86% of preliminary reports to the DVI teams in London within one working day of image receipt. This paper describes the first use of remote radiology reporting for DVI and exemplifies how remote PMCT reporting can be used to support a DVI process of this scale.

Challenges in implementing best practice DVI guidelines in low resource settings: lessons learnt from the Meethotamulla garbage dump mass disaster.

The management of mass fatalities following disasters is a complex process which requires the involvement of multiple stakeholders and resources. A garbage dump at Meethotamulla in Sri Lanka suddenly collapsed, resulting in the death of 32 individuals. Efforts to implement best practice guidelines in Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) during this disaster revealed several important aspects that need to be considered by the forensic community. Delays in initiating the legal processes to investigate and manage the incident resulted in public dissatisfaction towards the post-disaster management process. Body recovery by Police and military personnel without the involvement of medical teams had numerous shortcomings including the lack of proper tagging and photography, commingling of body parts, and non-preservation of personal items. Public expectation and demand for early release of the bodies conflicted with the necessity to undergo a stringent DVI process according to best practice guidelines. Many adaptations and alternate strategies were necessary to ensure that DVI could be done scientifically. The use of primary identification markers including odontology and DNA had many limitations including non-availability of antemortem data, resource availability and cost. Identification was established using a combination of secondary identification markers including clothing, jewelry, scars, tattoos, morphological descriptions and circumstantial evidence. In two cases, odontological features further supported positive identification. Samples for DNA were obtained and preserved but were not utilized in establishing the identities. This paper highlights the need for better public awareness and multidisciplinary commitment in managing mass fatalities and also reflects on the challenges of implementing best practice DVI guidelines in low-resource settings with different legal and socio-cultural expectations.

Dental Post-mortem Computed Tomography for Disaster Victim Identification: A literature review

Abstract Over the last decade, post-mortem computed tomography (PMCT) has been increasingly adopted within the forensic setting. The three-dimensional (3D) capability and non-destructive approach of PMCT allows it to have several advantages over conventional x-rays, and as such it may be of potential use within forensic odontology for disaster victim identification (DVI). However, the implementation of dental PMCT can only have a real forensic benefit if its accuracy is comparable to that of conventional post-mortem (PM) dental radiographs; which is currently standard practice. Therefore, the purpose of this review was to evaluate if dental PMCT is as accurate as PM dental radiographs. A review of the current literature has shown the accuracy of dental PMCT to be comparable or similar to that of PM dental radiographs. As a result, there is a potential for dental PMCT to replace conventional PM dental radiographs in the DVI process of Mass Fatality Incidents (MFIs). However, further research is required to establish an international standard protocol for dental PMCT before it can be recognised as a new standard practice within the forensic setting.

The use of radiology in the Japanese tsunami DVI process

Abstract On the 11th of March, 2011, the world's 4th largest earthquake (magnitude of 9.0) hit Tohoku, located in the northeast coastal area of Japan. The quake generated a tsunami that crashed ashore. The first tsunami of 15 m reached the shoreline 40 min after the quake. Approximately 16,000 people were lost, and more than 2000 remain missing. The National Police Agency took command of disaster victim identification (DVI). The Japanese Society of Legal Medicine sent member forensic pathologists and odontologists to more than 30 temporary mortuaries. No radiological technique other than dental X-ray was used for DVI. More than 90% of the victims were estimated to have died as a result of drowning from the tsunami. Approximately 90% of the victims were visually identified. Others were identified by dental records, fingerprints, or DNA. There were cases of misidentification resulting from visual identification. No CT scanning was undertaken throughout the DVI operation. The reasons that CT imaging was not used included the following: 1) there were too many bodies to scan, thus, it would have been too time/cost-consuming, 2) DVI was undertaken at many sites over a large area, 3) there was limited local experience with imaging techniques for DVI, and 4) most bodies were not injured or decomposed so were able to be visually identified. This was assisted by the cool winter weather at the time of the disaster. Four years after the tsunami, 15,736/15,892 (99%) bodies have been identified, and 2573 people are still missing.

Direct-to-PCR tissue preservation for DNA profiling

Disaster victim identification (DVI) often occurs in remote locations with extremes of temperatures and humidities. Access to mortuary facilities and refrigeration are not always available. An effective and robust DNA sampling and preservation procedure would increase the probability of successful DNA profiling and allow faster repatriation of bodies and body parts. If the act of tissue preservation also released DNA into solution, ready for polymerase chain reaction (PCR), the DVI process could be further streamlined. In this study, we explored the possibility of obtaining DNA profiles without DNA extraction, by adding aliquots of preservative solutions surrounding fresh human muscle and decomposing human muscle and skin tissue samples directly to PCR. The preservatives consisted of two custom preparations and two proprietary solutions. The custom preparations were a salt-saturated solution of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) with ethylenediaminetetraacetic (EDTA) and TENT buffer (Tris, EDTA, NaCl, Tween 20). The proprietary preservatives were DNAgard (Biomatrica(®)) and Tissue Stabilising Kit (DNA Genotek). We obtained full PowerPlex(®) 21 (Promega) and GlobalFiler(®) (Life Technologies) DNA profiles from fresh and decomposed tissue preserved at 35 °C for up to 28 days for all four preservatives. The preservative aliquots removed from the fresh muscle tissue samples had been stored at -80 °C for 4 years, indicating that long-term archival does not diminish the probability of successful DNA typing. Rather, storage at -80 °C seems to reduce PCR inhibition.

Optimized mass fatalities victim identification: An airplane crash as a test case

Efficient corpse tissue preservation, automated DNA extraction, sensitive DNA quantification and expert analysis software makes possible to design highly efficient workflows that speed up the mass disaster victim identification process from highly fragmented human bodies. Herein we describe the workflow employed in the reconstruction of the identity of 22 victims fragmented in 418 remains that emerged from the airplane crash occurred on May 18th 2011 in the province of Rio Negro, Argentina. Fatal victims identification was performed by comparison with first degree relatives by autosomal and Y STRs analysis. A SAAB plane carrying 19 passengers and three crew members (3 females and 19 males) exploded at high altitude over the ground level (approx. 2000m). All bodies were severely fragmented and a high number of isolated cranial bones were found. Remains were collected at the disaster area and sent to Buenos Aires where samples were selected and preserved in 50mL polypropylene tubes containing solid sodium chloride (table salt). DNA extractions from muscle and bone were performed using a semi-automated DNA purification system, quantification was carried out by Real Time PCR, STRs amplification using commercial kits and STR profile analysis with the help of an expert software. The implementation of this strategy allowed us to identify all the victims in one week. However, the complete task of identifying all remains recovered within the disaster area took over ten months due to the wide dispersion of fragments and the court's decision to identify each morphologically recognizable human tissue found within the disaster area.

Setting up an off-site emergency mortuary facility (EMF) to deal with a DVI incident: disaster victim management (DVM)

Forensic mortuaries in all Australian jurisdictions are dealing with increasing workloads, with routine cases regularly occupying greater than 50%, and often as much as 85%, of existing cold room body storage capacity, particularly over long weekends and during seasonal increases in respiratory infections. Hence the need to deal with a sudden influx of deceased persons or multiple body parts in a mass fatality incident would overwhelm most Australian forensic mortuaries, thereby requiring other means of body storage and processing. Exercise "Construct" was a joint South Australian Police (SAPol) and Forensic Science South Australia exercise designed to practice the establishment and construction of an emergency mortuary facility (EMF) to deal with a mass fatality incident and the subsequent disaster victim identification process. The aims of the exercise were to test preparedness, activation and construction processes relative to the establishment of an EMF. The exercise provided the opportunity to identify gaps in the capacity to successfully complete the tasks within the allotted time frames. The exercise reinforced the need to have a comprehensive and clearly documented process which must include a current list of suppliers who can deliver goods and services in a timely manner. The aim of this paper is to report on the exercise findings and share the experience with other jurisdictions. It will also provide other jurisdictions with the opportunity to consider whether the South Australian model will be useful to them in improving their own response when confronted with a mass fatality incident that may overwhelm existing local mortuary capacities and capabilities.

Advances in forensic age estimation

The ability to assign accurate age estimates to human remains and living individuals is becoming an increasingly important element of forensic practice. In mass fatality events, where many people lose their lives and are often unable to be visually identified, being able to separate individuals based on their age as determined by skeletal and/or dental development is a vital part of the Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) operation. For example, in the tragic bushfire disaster which struck Victoria in February 2009, of the 164 victims who lost their lives and were subject to the DVI process, 25 were under the age of 20 years, and many of these were located in commingled circumstances [1, 2]. Due to the severity of the fires and the condition of many of the remains it was only possible to identify a number of these by assessment of their age using dental and skeletal development [3]. Forensic age estimation also plays an increasingly important role in the assessment of living individuals of unknown age who have entered a foreign jurisdiction without identification papers, or with suspect identification documents. It is necessary to be able to determine the age status of these individuals for a number of reasons, including school entry and year level age requirements, and also for assessment of legal adulthood or childhood. Determination of an unknown age individual’s status as either an adult or a child is vital in terms of how that person will be treated by the law in not only criminal prosecutions, but also in immigration hearings, licensing applications and, increasingly importantly, determination of refugee status. Age assessment of living individuals is conducted by using various medical imaging modalities, such as conventional X-ray and CT scanning, in order to capture images of the developing skeleton and the dentition. The anatomical sites most commonly imaged are the hand/wrist region for assessment of skeletal development, the dentition for assessment of dental age, and more recently the use of CT scanning to capture images of the developing clavicle and the dentition [4, 5]. This imaging necessarily involves the use of ionising radiation with concomitant exposure to various tissues. This exposure is not at a level sufficient to cause immediate harm, but does raise the total lifetime dose of radiation experienced by the individual concerned. There are medical ethical and legal considerations involved in conducting radiological procedures on living people, with no definite medical need, that are yet to be properly addressed. In Australia and New Zealand, forensic odontologists and anthropologists have been using various age estimation methods for many decades, the majority of these developed from population studies originating in the United States, Canada, and Europe [6–9]. These methods were developed from research conducted many decades ago and on populations which geographically, environmentally, and nutritionally do not accurately reflect current population demographics. For juveniles, that is, those individuals under the age of 15 years, these systems, especially those describing dental development, have proven to be quite adequate and have served the profession well. Recent research, however, would suggest that for dental ageing at least, these older methods may not be as accurate as was once thought for young individuals [10], and it is suspected that they may be substantially more inaccurate for individuals older than 15 years of age. R. B. Bassed (&) Department of Forensic Medicine, Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, Monash University, 57-83 Kavanagh St, Southbank, Melbourne, Australia e-mail: richardb@vifm.org

Integrating forensic anthropology into disaster victim identification

This paper will provide mass fatality emergency planners, police, medical examiners, coroners and other Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) personnel ways to integrate forensic anthropologists into DVI operations and demonstrate how anthropological contributions have improved DVI projects. In mass disaster situations, anthropologists have traditionally been limited to developing biological profiles from skeletal remains. Over the past decade, however, anthropologists' involvement in DVI has extended well beyond this traditional role as they have taken on increasingly diverse tasks and responsibilities. Anthropological involvement in DVI operations is often dictated by an incident's specific characteristics, particularly events involving extensive fragmentation, commingling, or other forms of compromised remains. This paper will provide examples from recent DVI incidents to illustrate the operational utility of anthropologists in the DVI context. The points where it is most beneficial to integrate anthropologists into the DVI process include: (1) during recovery at the disaster scene; (2) at the triage station as remains are brought into the mortuary; and (3) in conducting the reconciliation process. Particular attention will be paid to quality control and quality assurance measures anthropologists have developed and implemented for DVI projects. Overall, this paper will explain how anthropological expertise can be used to increase accuracy in DVI while reducing the project's cost and duration.

Recognising a suicide bomber as part of the disaster victim identification process

Mass casualty events, where a suicide bomber is involved, usually result in widescale injuries and fragmentation. Following these incidents, identifying the bomber carrier is a primary objective of any investigation. The application of the principals of Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) at the scene and in the mortuary will ensure that all human remains are optimally recovered and examined with respect to the identification of the deceased and the investigation of the crime. A recent DVI/post-blast exercise completed in Western Australia will be used to illustrate the nature of typical ‘suicide bomber’ injuries and how proper application of the DVI process is vital to locating and identifying these types of offenders. Drawing on published accounts and their own recent experiences, the presenters will describe the typical features of explosive injuries, particularly as they relate to contact injuries typically seen in a suicide bomber.

The role of the forensic odontologist in disaster victim identification: Lessons for management

Forensic odontologists are involved in all phases of disaster victim identification (DVI). The failure of DVI management to embed odontology teams within all phases of the investigation and to include them in management decisions throughout the operation may lead to delays in the reconciliation process and could possibly compromise the integrity of the DVI investigation. In the case study presented, trained and experienced teams of forensic odontologists were not utilised to full capacity in all phases of the investigation. The complexity of the initial scene investigation was not identified resulting in the incomplete recovery of all remains. The scene had to be re-examined on three subsequent occasions. The post-mortem examination of the remains had to be deferred until all subsequent material had been collected. The collection of all ante-mortem dental records was not undertaken, resulting in transcription information that was incomplete and compromised. As a result, the reconciliation (formal identification) of the deceased became problematic because of the compounded errors in all phases of this DVI investigation and the resulting odontological report of identification could have jeopardised the integrity of the entire DVI process. Following a review of this case and the recognition of possible areas of omission in the management of the investigation a strategy to address these problems is proposed.

The application of computerized tomography (CT) to the dental ageing of children and adolescents

Introduction Following a mass disaster, the aim of the Disaster Victim Identification process is to establish the identity of the victims. The ageing screening process on victims in Victoria may now be complemented with the use of computerized tomography (CT), where previously any dental ageing analysis was performed using conventional radiographs. The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of age estimation using the dental ageing method proposed by Moorrees, Fanning and Hunt (MFH) using CT images. Intra- and inter-rater variability between two raters, one experienced and one inexperienced, was also assessed. Materials and methods The two raters were blinded to the ages of 96 deceased Australian children aged up to 15 years. Using three-dimensional (3D) shaded surface displays (SSD) and reformatted CT images, the age was first estimated based on prior experience alone, followed at a later date by the age estimation utilizing the MFH method. These estimates were then compared to the known chronological age. The results were statistically analyzed in a one-sample t-test, using the mean log-ratio of the estimated age to the chronological age. Results Our findings show that the experienced rater was more accurate in age estimation than the less experienced when using prior experience ( p < 0.0001). The use of reformatted CT images to perform an ageing estimate using the MFH method was found to systematically underestimate the chronological age by 10% by both raters ( p = 0.784). There was no significant difference between the two raters. Intra-rater reliability was high ( p = 0.135). Conclusions CT can provide accurate estimates of dental ages. Prior experience with dental ageing and/or CT improves the accuracy. However, with the use of validated ageing charts, inexperienced raters can also achieve accurate age estimates using CT images.

Disaster Victim Identification: New Applications for Postmortem Computed Tomography

Mass fatalities can present the forensic anthropologist and forensic pathologist with a different set of challenges to those presented by a single fatality. To date radiography has played an important role in the disaster victim identification (DVI) process. The aim of this paper is to highlight the benefits of applying computed tomography (CT) technology to the DVI process. The paper begins by reviewing the extent to which sophisticated imaging techniques, specifically CT, have been increasingly used to assist in the analysis of deceased individuals. A small scale case study is then presented which describes aspects of the DVI process following a recent Australian aviation disaster involving two individuals. Having grided the scene of the disaster, a total of 41 bags of heavily disrupted human remains were collected. A postmortem examination was subsequently undertaken. Analysis of the CT images of all body parts (n = 162) made it possible not only to identify and side differentially preserved skeletal elements which were anatomically unrecognizable in the heavily disrupted body masses, but also to observe and record useful identifying features such as surgical implants. In this case the role of the forensic anthropologist and CT technology were paramount in facilitating a quick identification, and subsequently, an effective and timely reconciliation, of body parts. Although this case study is small scale, it illustrates the enormous potential for CT imaging to complement the existing DVI process.

Use of multislice computed tomography in disaster victim identification—Advantages and limitations

After a mass fatality incident (MFI), all victims have to be rapidly and accurately identified for juridical reasons as well as for the relatives’ sake. Since MFIs are often international in scope, Interpol has proposed standard disaster victim identification (DVI) procedures, which have been widely adopted by authorities and forensic experts. This study investigates how postmortem multislice computed tomography (MSCT) can contribute to the DVI process as proposed by Interpol. The Interpol postmortem (PM) form has been analyzed, and a number of items in sections D and E thereof have been postulated to be suitable for documentation by CT data. CT scans have then been performed on forensic cases. Interpretation of the reconstructed images showed that indeed much of the postmortem information required for identification can be gathered from CT data. Further advantages of the proposed approach concern the observer independent documentation, the possibility to reconstruct a variety of images a long time after the event, the possibility to distribute the work by transmitting CT data digitally, and the reduction of time and specialists needed at the disaster site. We conclude that MSCT may be used as a valuable screening tool in DVI in the future.