Imaginological exams of the frontal sinus in human identification

Abstract

Introduction: Human identification is the process by which the identity of an individual is established by comparing data recorded at different times. In the case of the human skull, the most used areas for the individualization are the Turkish Chair, the sphenoid bone, the mastoid cells, and the frontal sinus. Objective: The aim of the present work was to identify and describe the main techniques developed for human identification through a literature review, based on imaging of the frontal sinuses, due to the potential contribution of dental radiology in this context. Sources of data: For this, a bibliographic search was performed in PUBMED, using the following terminologies: frontal sinus, radiology, and forensic. Articles published between 2007 and 2017 were included, literature articles, letters, and case reports were excluded. Synthesis of data: A total of twenty-three articles were selected, the sample was analyzed for the nationality, homogeneity, sex, and age of the individuals, as well as for the types of imaging tests that constituted this sample, whether of radiographic or tomographic origin and their different projections and modalities. In addition, the literature was classified as to the different techniques and parameters used for identification, whether quantitative or morphological. Conclusion: After this research, it was possible to conclude that the profile of the world scientific research aimed at human identification through imaging of the frontal sinuses, consists of homogenous samples, of both sexes, and a wide age group, using mostly posteroanterior extraoral radiographic examination and qualitative and quantitative parameters for identification.