Application of Micro-Computed Tomography for the Estimation of the Post-Mortem Interval of Human Skeletal Remains

Abstract

It is challenging to estimate the post-mortem interval (PMI) of skeletal remains within a forensic context. As a result of their interactions with the environment, bones undergo several chemical and physical changes after death. So far, multiple methods have been used to follow up on post-mortem changes. There is, however, no definitive way to estimate the PMI of skeletal remains. This research aimed to propose a methodology capable of estimating the PMI using micro-computed tomography measurements of 104 human skeletal remains with PMIs between one day and 2000 years. The present study indicates that micro-computed tomography could be considered an objective and precise method of PMI evaluation in forensic medicine. The measured parameters show a significant difference regarding the PMI for Cort Porosity p < 0.001, BV/TV p > 0.001, Mean1 p > 0.001 and Mean2 p > 0.005. Using a machine learning approach, the neural network showed an accuracy of 99% for distinguishing between samples with a PMI of less than 100 years and archaeological samples.

Handheld hyperspectral imaging as a tool for the post-mortem interval estimation of human skeletal remains

“…Unfortunately, the set of samples is too small to analyze these aspects further. In addition, the premortem bone loss could produce inaccurate findings (as shown, e.g., by earlier CT [ 105 ]). More extensive studies are needed to include the locations and prior thermal modifications as independent factors to improve discriminating accuracy between the lower classes 1–4.…”

“…The ‘Staatssammlung für Anthropologie und Paläoanatomie MUC‘ (SAPM, Munich, Germany) granted permission and provided archaeological bone samples for the study. Additionally, handheld near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy and micro-computed tomography (CT) were used for all samples [ 104 , 105 ]. Energy dispersive X-ray mapping as wells as reflection-, ATR- and Raman-microscopic imaging was applied to 2 archaeological and 4 forensic bone samples [ 50 , 62 ].…”

Deep learning analysis of mid‐infrared microscopic imaging data for the diagnosis and classification of human lymphomas

“…These two layers were connected to the output of the network, which, depending on the task, consisted of several (for multiclass classification) or one (for binary classification) output neurons (Figure 1B). The technique helps to overcome the limitations of small data sets, which was demonstrated in [43].…”

Combining with lab-on-chip technology and multi-organ fusion strategy to estimate post-mortem interval of rat

“…A further investigation into microorganisms of human and animal remains to study microbial community succession after death (21)(22)(23)(24). In addition, with the development of imaging technology, post-mortem computed tomography (25), microCT (26), and visible and thermal 3D imaging (27) have also been used to infer the time since death. These technologies provide valuable ideas and methods for PMI estimation in forensic practice.…”