Reliability of frontal sinus by cone beam-computed tomography (CBCT) for individual identification

Analysis of the frontal sinus is an important tool in personal identification. Cone beam-computed tomography (CBCT) is also progressively replacing conventional radiography and multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) in human identification. The aim of this study is to develop a reproducible technique and measurements from 3D reconstructions obtained with CBCT, for use in human identification. CBCT from 150 patients (91 female, 59 male), aged between 15 and 78 years, was analysed with the specific software program MIMICS 11.11 (Materialise N.V., Leuven, Belgium). Corresponding 3D volumes were generated and maximal dimensions along 3 directions (x, y, z), X (M), Y (M), Z (M) (in mm), total volume area (in mm(3)), V (t), and total surface (in mm(2)), S (t), were calculated. Correlation analysis showed that sinus surfaces were strongly correlated with their volume (r = 0.976). Frontal sinuses were separate in 21 subjects (14 %), fused in 67 (44.6 %) and found on only one side (unilateral) in 9 (6 %). A Prominent Middle of Fused Sinus (PMS) was found in 53 subjects (35.3 %). The intra- (0.963-0.999) and inter-observer variability (0.973-0.999) showed a great agreement and a substantial homogeneity of evaluation.