OPTICAL AND DIGITAL-TECHNIQUES FOR ENHANCING RADIOGRAPHIC ANATOMY FORIDENTIFICATION OF HUMAN REMAINS

Out of a total of more than 300 radiographic identifications made by o ne of us (JJF), there were 11 cases in which radiologic adjuncts were used because the antemortem radiographs were either miniaturized or be cause anatomical landmarks could not be clearly discerned. The techniq ues used included slide projection (two cases), photographic enlargeme nt and enhancement (two cases), digitization (three cases), and digiti zation with computer enhancement (three cases), commercial digitizatio n (one case). In a 12th case, where identification was made by compari son of antemortem and postmortem film X-rays, the films were digitized as a further evaluation of a commercial system. This is the first rep orted use of these techniques.