[Forensic identification by coding of frontal sinus characteristics of CT].

Objective: To explore observing parameters of frontal sinus using reconstructive coronal nose bone sections of the head CT images and to establish the special identification codes.

Methods: CT images of the frontal sinus were analyzed by using distance measurement and morphological description. The discrimination codes of frontal sinus identification were: the number of right partial septa, shape-the location of the central septa, shape-the number of left partial septa, shape; the number of arches of right upper scalloping (the location of the right highest scalloping, the location of the right lowest scalloping)-the number of arches of left upper scalloping (the location of the left highest scalloping, the location of the left lowest scalloping); the width, height of the right sinus-the total width of sinus-the width, height of the left sinus.

Results: The identification codes of the frontal sinus were highly variable individually, but the codes were not statistically differences between males and females (P > 0.05).

Conclusion: The identification codes of frontal sinus could be used for forensic individual identification, but not for sex determination.