Forensic identification by coding of frontal sinus characteristics of CT

Objective To explore observing parameters of frontal sinus using reconstructive coronal nose bone sections of the head CT images and to establish the special identification codes.Methods CT images of the frontal sinus were analyzed by using distance measurement and morphological description.The discrimination codes of frontal sinus identification were: the number of right partial septa,shape-the location of the central septa,shape-the number of left partial septa,shape;the number of arches of right upper scalloping(the location of the right highest scalloping,the location of the right lowest scalloping)-the number of arches of left upper scalloping(the location of the left highest scalloping,the location of the left lowest scalloping);the width,height of the right sinus-the total width of sinus-the width,height of the left sinus.Results The identification codes of the frontal sinus were highly variable individually,but the codes were not statistically differences between males and females(P0.05).Conclusion The identification codes of frontal sinus could be used for forensic individual identification,but not for sex determination.