Cone-beam computed tomography analysis of the frontal sinus in forensic investigation

Abstract

The frontal sinuses can provide significant evidence for forensic identification. The peculiarity of the frontal sinus contours allows a precise and meticulous analysis, reducing the risk of errors on the part of the forensic experts. To describe the use of cone-beam computed tomography as an alternative to obtaining images of the frontal sinuses. In addition, it is proposed the adoption of some anatomic references to do the axial slicing, which should have its plan being tangent to the upper limit of the orbital cavities, as well as the sagittal slicing, which should be done under the midline, so that all sinus boundaries would be observed while error margin in obtaining comparative images would be reduced. The comparison of frontal sinus images by cone-beam computed tomography can be used as an additional method in the identification process, providing the expert with a greater reliability.