Medical records (Positive identification)

Question 1

How can radiography of the frontal sinus help in positive ID?

Answer 1

Measuring:
- size of each cell
- differences between left and right cells
- degree of deflection of septum
- degree of merging with ethmoid sinus

Question 2

What are problems with using frontal sinus x-rays?

Answer 2

• orientation of post mortem radio must match with premortem one
• Premortem radio must be clear
• Not everyone has frontal sinus

Question 3

What are other methods of positive ID?

Answer 3

• Surgical implants with serial numbers to trace back to hospitals
• Record of major surgery = antemortem medical records

Question 4

What other sinus x-rays can be used?

Answer 4

• maxillary sinus
• ethmoid sinus
• sphenoid sinus
• mastoid sinus

Question 5

What other x-rays can help in positive ID?

Answer 5

• patterns of cranial sutures
• patterns of trabecular bone