Radiology plays an important role in forensic science by aiding in identification, determining causes of injury and death, and providing evidence for legal proceedings. Specifically, radiographs can be used to identify individuals by comparing antemortem and postmortem images and assessing dental development. They also help determine causes of death by locating projectiles or injuries and fractures. Proper record keeping of radiographs is important for future reference. Radiology techniques like CT and MRI are useful for diagnosing non-accidental injuries in children. Dental radiographs additionally aid in age estimation, identification of faulty charting, and provide research opportunities in forensics.

1. SCOPE OF RADIOLOGY IN FORENSIC
Presented by :
Aiswarya GR
IInd Semester
MSc . Forensic Odontology
1

2. CONTENTS
• Introduction
• Scope of Radiology in forensic
 Determination of Identity
 Determination of cause of injury and death
 Administrative proceedings
 Non accidental injuries of children
 To find the faulty charting of teeth
 Age estimation using dental radiograph
 Record keeping
 Research
• Reference
2

3. INTRODUCTION
• Now-a-days, forensic radiology is evolving as a branch of forensic dentistry,
in which radiographs play a vital role in identification of the dead.
• Radiographs makes a precise form of comparison between antemortem
and postmortem radiographs .
• Radiographs are able to capture their distinct anatomical features, that
become an invaluable tool in forensic sciences.
• Manigandan T, Sumathy C, Elumalai M, Sathasivasubramanian S, Kannan A. Forensic radiology in dentistry. J Pharm Bioallied Sci.
2015;7(Suppl 1):S260-S264. doi:10.4103/0975-7406.155944
3

4. SCOPE OF RADIOLOGY IN FORENSIC
• Determination of Identity
• To determine the cause injury and death
• Administrative Proceedings
• To find faulty charting of teeth
• Non accidental injuries of children
• Age estimation using dental radiograph
• Record keeping
• Research
• Manigandan T, Sumathy C, Elumalai M, Sathasivasubramanian S, Kannan A. Forensic radiology in dentistry. J Pharm Bioallied Sci.
2015;7(Suppl 1):S260-S264. doi:10.4103/0975-7406.155944
4

5. DETERMINATION OF IDENTITY
• Radiographs are helpful to determine the age of an individual by assessing
the stage of eruption of teeth.
• Skull radiographs can be used in the identification by superimposing on
antemortem radiograph or photograph.
• Radiological determination of individual identity may be presumptive upon
demonstration of pre-existing injuries , illness or any developmental
peculiarities .
• Deliberate alteration in the shape of the teeth in suspects can be identified
with radiographs in bite mark cases.
• Radiography also plays a very versatile role within mass disasters.
• Manigandan T, Sumathy C, Elumalai M, Sathasivasubramanian S, Kannan A. Forensic radiology in dentistry. J Pharm Bioallied Sci.
2015;7(Suppl 1):S260-S264. doi:10.4103/0975-7406.155944
• Thali, M. J., MD, Viner, M. D., & Brogdon, B. (2010). Brogdon’s Forensic Radiology, Second Edition. CRC Press. 5

6. 6
Nainan, Oommen. (2015). Dental Biometrics as an Aid in the Determination of Human Identity. International Journal of Clinical Case Reports.
10.5376/ijccr.2015.05.0032.

7. DETERMINATION OF CAUSE OF INJURY
AND DEATH
• The location and type of fracture , considered with reference to the
history , age and sex of the victim and the expected level of activity of the
individual ,which suggest whether the injury is accidental or inflicted.
• Radiographs are useful for localizing bullets or other metallic foreign
objects; confirming suspected air embolism.
• In a drowning case, massive vital decompression with pulmonary
barotrauma and a fatal gas embolism was identified in the radiological
image.
• Fracture of the hyoid bone or thyroid cornua usually suggest strangulation.
• Manigandan T, Sumathy C, Elumalai M, Sathasivasubramanian S, Kannan A. Forensic radiology in dentistry. J Pharm Bioallied Sci.
2015;7(Suppl 1):S260-S264. doi:10.4103/0975-7406.155944
• Thali, M. J., MD, Viner, M. D., & Brogdon, B. (2010). Brogdon’s Forensic Radiology, Second Edition. CRC Press.
7

8. 8
Keerthi, R, and Abdulhaseeb Quadri. “Hyoid Bone Fracture: Associated With Head and Neck Trauma-A Rare Case Report.” Journal of maxillofacial
and oral surgery vol. 15,Suppl 2 (2016): 249-52. doi:10.1007/s12663-015-0761-x

9. ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDINGS
• Radiograph which is considered as an evidence in a legal controversy is a
part of the clinical record made while the subject is in a hospital.
• Radiograph should be explained to the court , when pictures are made by
X-ray technicians it is necessary to call a witness qualified to interpret X-
ray photographs as an expert .
• The expert should know if the radiograph is original or a copy and the
whereabouts of the radiographs at all times.
• Manigandan T, Sumathy C, Elumalai M, Sathasivasubramanian S, Kannan A. Forensic radiology in dentistry. J Pharm Bioallied Sci.
2015;7(Suppl 1):S260-S264. doi:10.4103/0975-7406.155944
• Thali, M. J., MD, Viner, M. D., & Brogdon, B. (2010). Brogdon’s Forensic Radiology, Second Edition. CRC Press. 9

10. NON ACCIDENTAL INJURIES OF CHILDREN
• Radiology places an important role in diagnosing child abuse .
• Forensic radiologists suggest different techniques for specific head injury.
• Computerized Tomography (CT) is recommended for detection of
subarachnoid hemorrhages .
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is superior in revealing subdural
hematomas, concussive injuries, and shear injuries.
• CT advocated detection of fractures.
• Manigandan T, Sumathy C, Elumalai M, Sathasivasubramanian S, Kannan A. Forensic radiology in dentistry. J Pharm Bioallied Sci.
2015;7(Suppl 1):S260-S264. doi:10.4103/0975-7406.155944
10

11. TO FIND THE FAULTY CHARTING OF TEETH
• Antemortem and postmortem radiographs are compared noting
similarities and differences .
• The most current films are examined first because they will show the
greatest similarity to the postmortem status of the teeth and jaws.
• Sometimes, while charting postmortem data teeth may be wrongly
numbered especially in cases where adjacent tooth migrate into the
extraction space. This can be connected using radiographs.
• Manigandan T, Sumathy C, Elumalai M, Sathasivasubramanian S, Kannan A. Forensic radiology in dentistry. J Pharm Bioallied Sci.
2015;7(Suppl 1):S260-S264. doi:10.4103/0975-7406.155944
• Thali, M. J., MD, Viner, M. D., & Brogdon, B. (2010). Brogdon’s Forensic Radiology, Second Edition. CRC Press.
11

12. AGE ESTIMATION USING DENTAL
RADIOGRAPH
• Secondary dentine deposit can be used as an indicator of age in adults.
• Secondary dentine as also been measured indirectly on radiograph of
extracted teeth.
• It is an nondestructive method to predict the age.
• The ratio between pulp and the root has also been used in age estimation as
the size of the pulp is reduced with age.
• Manigandan T, Sumathy C, Elumalai M, Sathasivasubramanian S, Kannan A. Forensic radiology in dentistry. J Pharm Bioallied Sci.
2015;7(Suppl 1):S260-S264. doi:10.4103/0975-7406.155944
• Thali, M. J., MD, Viner, M. D., & Brogdon, B. (2010). Brogdon’s Forensic Radiology, Second Edition. CRC Press.
12

13. 13
Limdiwala, Piyush G, and J S Shah. “Age estimation by using dental radiographs.” Journal of forensic dental sciences vol. 5,2 (2013): 118-22.
doi:10.4103/0975-1475.119778

14. RECORD KEEPING
• Careful record keeping, in medical facilities and private practices for as
long as feasible, is extremely important.
• Radiographs pertaining to inactive patient's files are stored for at least 5
years.
• Radiographs are generally regarded as the property of the hospital or
office in which they were produced although the law guarantees patient
access to them.
• While doing it so , which helps in future reference purposes or for any
cross examinations
• Manigandan T, Sumathy C, Elumalai M, Sathasivasubramanian S, Kannan A. Forensic radiology in dentistry. J Pharm Bioallied Sci.
2015;7(Suppl 1):S260-S264. doi:10.4103/0975-7406.155944
• Thali, M. J., MD, Viner, M. D., & Brogdon, B. (2010). Brogdon’s Forensic Radiology, Second Edition. CRC Press.
14

15. RESEARCH
• Diagnostic imaging methods are , in general , underutilized in forensic
biomedical practice and research.
• Some very promising applications of modern radiological methods in the
courts have above already through individual effort , innovation and
inspiration.
• Thali, M. J., MD, Viner, M. D., & Brogdon, B. (2010). Brogdon’s Forensic Radiology, Second Edition. CRC Press.
15

16. REFERENCE
• Manigandan T, Sumathy C, Elumalai M, Sathasivasubramanian S, Kannan A.
Forensic radiology in dentistry. J Pharm Bioallied Sci. 2015;7(Suppl 1):S260-S264.
doi:10.4103/0975-7406.155944
• Thali , M. J., MD, Viner, M. D., & Brogdon, B. (2010). Brogdon’s Forensic
Radiology, Second Edition. CRC Press.
• Limdiwala, Piyush G, and J S Shah. “Age estimation by using dental
radiographs.” Journal of forensic dental sciences vol. 5,2 (2013): 118-22.
doi:10.4103/0975-1475.119778
• Keerthi, R, and Abdulhaseeb Quadri. “Hyoid Bone Fracture: Associated With
Head and Neck Trauma-A Rare Case Report.” Journal of maxillofacial and oral
surgery vol. 15,Suppl 2 (2016): 249-52. doi:10.1007/s12663-015-0761-x
• Nainan , Oommen. (2015). Dental Biometrics as an Aid in the Determination of
Human Identity. International Journal of Clinical Case Reports.
10.5376/ijccr.2015.05.0032.
16

17. THANK YOU
17