Anatomical variability of the frontal sinuses and their application in forensic identification

The uniqueness of anatomical structures and their variations provides the b asis for forensic identification of unknown deceased persons. Similar to fi ngerprints, each frontal sinus is so distinctive and unique that the chance s of two individuals having the same morphology of the frontal sinuses is e xtremely remote. Radiographs, especially the occipitomental view commonly u sed in the assessment of paranasal pathology, provide excellent records of these sinuses. The case illustrated here is an application of the frontal s inus identification of a victim in a mass disaster. Clin. Anat. 12:16-19, 1 999. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.