Digital forensic osteology--possibilities in cooperation with the Virtopsy project

Verhoff, Marcel A; Ramsthaler, Frank; Krähahn, Jonathan; Deml, Ulf; Gille, Ralf J; Grabherr, Silke; Thali, Michael J; Kreutz, Kerstin (2008). Digital forensic osteology--possibilities in cooperation with the Virtopsy project. Forensic science international, 174(2-3), pp. 152-6. Shannon: Elsevier Scientific Publ. Ireland 10.1016/j.forsciint.2007.03.017

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The present study was carried out to check whether classic osteometric parameters can be determined from the 3D reconstructions of MSCT (multislice computed tomography) scans acquired in the context of the Virtopsy project. To this end, four isolated and macerated skulls were examined by six examiners. First the skulls were conventionally (manually) measured using 32 internationally accepted linear measurements. Then the skulls were scanned by the use of MSCT with slice thicknesses of 1.25 mm and 0.63 mm, and the 33 measurements were virtually determined on the digital 3D reconstructions of the skulls. The results of the traditional and the digital measurements were compared for each examiner to figure out variations. Furthermore, several parameters were measured on the cranium and postcranium during an autopsy and compared to the values that had been measured on a 3D reconstruction from a previously acquired postmortem MSCT scan. The results indicate that equivalent osteometric values can be obtained from digital 3D reconstructions from MSCT scans using a slice thickness of 1.25 mm, and from conventional manual examinations. The measurements taken from a corpse during an autopsy could also be validated with the methods used for the digital 3D reconstructions in the context of the Virtopsy project. Future aims are the assessment and biostatistical evaluation in respect to sex, age and stature of all data sets stored in the Virtopsy project so far, as well as of future data sets. Furthermore, a definition of new parameters, only measurable with the aid of MSCT data would be conceivable.

Item Type:	Journal Article (Original Article)
Division/Institute:	04 Faculty of Medicine > Service Sector > Institute of Legal Medicine
UniBE Contributor:	Thali, Michael
ISSN:	0379-0738
ISBN:	17451898
Publisher:	Elsevier Scientific Publ. Ireland
Language:	English
Submitter:	Factscience Import
Date Deposited:	04 Oct 2013 14:56
Last Modified:	05 Dec 2022 14:17
Publisher DOI:	10.1016/j.forsciint.2007.03.017
PubMed ID:	17451898
Web of Science ID:	000253033800011
URI:	https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/23906 (FactScience: 45105)