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01-03-2018 | Original Article

3D quantitative analysis of early decomposition changes of the human face

Authors: Zuzana Caplova, Daniele Maria Gibelli, Pasquale Poppa, Marco Cummaudo, Zuzana Obertova, Chiarella Sforza, Cristina Cattaneo

Published in: International Journal of Legal Medicine | Issue 2/2018

Abstract

Decomposition of the human body and human face is influenced, among other things, by environmental conditions. The early decomposition changes that modify the appearance of the face may hamper the recognition and identification of the deceased. Quantitative assessment of those changes may provide important information for forensic identification. This report presents a pilot 3D quantitative approach of tracking early decomposition changes of a single cadaver in controlled environmental conditions by summarizing the change with weekly morphological descriptions. The root mean square (RMS) value was used to evaluate the changes of the face after death. The results showed a high correlation (r = 0.863) between the measured RMS and the time since death. RMS values of each scan are presented, as well as the average weekly RMS values. The quantification of decomposition changes could improve the accuracy of antemortem facial approximation and potentially could allow the direct comparisons of antemortem and postmortem 3D scans.

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Title: 3D quantitative analysis of early decomposition changes of the human face
Authors: Zuzana Caplova
Daniele Maria Gibelli
Pasquale Poppa
Marco Cummaudo
Zuzana Obertova
Chiarella Sforza
Cristina Cattaneo
Publication date: 01-03-2018
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: International Journal of Legal Medicine / Issue 2/2018
Print ISSN: 0937-9827
Electronic ISSN: 1437-1596
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-017-1647-x

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

3D quantitative analysis of early decomposition changes of the human face

Abstract

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

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