Use of Postmortem Computed Tomography in Disaster Victim Identification: Current Japanese Methods and Challenges

Introduction: In Japan, victims of large-scale disasters are usually identified by non-objective means. the case 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, ~90% bodies were based on nonobjective means such as facial features or belongings, which resulted in misidentification. At present, situation remains same. However, according to global standards, a method referred “disaster victim identification” (DVI; individual identification disaster victims) is recommended International Criminal Police Organization; this method, multidisciplinary investigation team integrates objective information dental charts and DNA. Furthermore, recently, there has been movement employ postmortem computed tomography (CT) for personal identification, radiologists expected be included DVI team. Method: Department Legal Medicine Chiba University via CT magnetic resonance imaging was conducted forensic autopsy cases unknown identities when an assumed person body antemortem image could acquired. Two certified interpreted compared with taken prior assessed whether two images compatible indicate same person. Results: A total 20 judged. all cases, compatible, indicating Image-based particularly useful findings fingerprints unavailable comparison no family members available DNA testing. Conclusion: future, will applied disasters.