Forensic Radiology and Identification

Personal identification represents one of the most crucial activities of forensic pathologists, odontologists, radiologists and/or anthropologists. It is also one of the least standardised procedures, as it takes into consideration, case by case, the comparison between different anatomical and acquired features that require critical judgment by an expert operator. The identification of an unknown decedent is crucial both from a juridical point of view, concerning criminal, civil, insurance matters, and for ethical reasons as well, not least providing closure to relatives. Especially in the modern scenarios of mass migrations, the personal identification of dead migrants may provide some relief to relatives in the countries of origin or of destination who do not know if their loved ones are dead or alive (Cattaneo et al., Forensic Sci Int 250:e1–e2, 2015).