Three‐dimensional reconstruction of King Henri IV's paranasal sinuses and mastoid cells

Abstract

PurposeThe preserved head of King Henri IV of France (life 1553–1610, reign 1589–1610) has survived to the present day thanks to high‐quality embalming and favorable conservation conditions. The aim of this study was to examine Henry IV's upper resonant cavities and mastoids using an original and innovative forensic three‐dimensional segmentation method.MethodsThe paranasal sinuses and mastoid cells of King Henri IV of France were studied by cross‐referencing available biographical information with clinical and flexible endoscopic examination and computed tomography (CT‐scan) imaging. The paranasal sinuses and mastoid cells were delineated and their volumes were assessed using ITK‐SNAP 4.0 software (open‐source). Graphical representations were created using Fusion 360® (Autodesk Inc., San Rafael, CA, USA) and MeshMixer® (Autodesk Inc., San Rafael, CA, USA).ResultsParanasal sinus tomodensitometry revealed abnormalities in shape and number. Henri IV of France suffered from sinus aplasia. Neither the left sphenoid nor left frontal sinus contrasted sharply, and a remarkable pneumatization of the right clinoid processes extended throughout the height of the right pterygoid process. The total volumes of Henri IV's mastoid air‐cells were estimated at 27 and 26 mL, respectively, for the right and left sides, exceeding the normal mean and the maximum of modern subjects by a wide margin. No sign of chronic ear or sinus condition was found.ConclusionsAn innovative method has been developed in forensic medicine to establish hypotheses about the growth and respiratory conditions of the face.