New identification possibilities with postmortem multislice computed tomography

Historically, radiographical identification has been done by comparing conventional antemortem and postmortem X-ray images. The advent of new technologies such as multislice computed tomography (MSCT) is making traditional antemortem examination increasingly less frequent. The authors present the results of MSCT study of 35 corpses, which demonstrated features potentially useful for identification purposes in ten cases. These features, which relate to abnormalities of postcranial bone as well as of the internal organs, are presented. Attempts were made to find any antemortem X-rays or MSCTs on the cases described to compare the two antemortem and postmortem images. Although antemortem imaging was recovered for only two cases (one case with a skeletal abnormality and one case with a visceral abnormality), it permitted for both cases the comparison of antemortem and postmortem MSCTs.