B-mode Ultrasound Measurement of Facial Soft Tissue Thickness for Craniofacial Identification: A Standardized Approach

Facial soft tissue thicknesses (FSTT) have long formed a quantitative cornerstone of craniofacial identification methods. Measurement approaches could, however, be improved by standardization that enhances the utility/comparability of these FSTT data between studies and authors. This applies equally within the broad classes of measurement techniques, just as it does between them, where many different varieties of tools, tool settings, and practitioner techniques are used within each measurement modality. Although B-mode ultrasound is popularly used and holds some prime advantages, such as the measurement of upright living subjects, technical recommendations that provide basic underlying data structure and standardization are essentially nonexistent. This paper provides the first systematic and illustrated description of a standardized B-mode ultrasound measurement method designed to maximize data utility for craniofacial identification purposes.