Postmortem dental imaging using a mobile 3D c-arm cone-beam CT system: a feasibility study for forensic odontology and disaster victim identification

Abstract Background Forensic odontology remains a key component of disaster victim identification (DVI), relying on radiological documentation of dental morphology, restorations, implants, and other individualizing features. While postmortem computed tomography has become increasingly integrated into forensic workflows, dedicated dental imaging remains challenging in temporary mortuary facilities, remote locations, and disaster environments. Contemporary mobile three-dimensional (3D) C-arm systems provide volumetric cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging with limited infrastructure requirements and may represent a practical alternative for postmortem dental imaging. This study assessed the technical feasibility of postmortem dental imaging using a modern mobile 3D C-arm CBCT system in 15 forensic cases. Image quality and the visualization of identification-relevant dental features and reconstructions were qualitatively assessed. Comparative imaging was performed using conventional fan-beam CT reconstructed with a dedicated dental protocol. Results Postmortem imaging was completed without technical interruption in 15 forensic cases. The acquired volumetric datasets enabled visualization of dental structures and recorded metallic dental findings and endodontic treatments where present. Multiplanar reformations, maximum intensity projections, panoramic-like images (curved planar reconstructions), and 3D visualizations were generated from a single acquisition. Curved planar reconstructions facilitated visualization of both dental arches in a panoramic-like format. In qualitative comparison with high-resolution fan-beam CT reconstructed using a dedicated dental protocol and extended CT scale, the mobile 3D C-arm cone-beam CT datasets appeared to show reduced blooming artefacts associated with metallic dental findings. Conclusions Contemporary mobile 3D C-arm CBCT systems enable feasible postmortem dental imaging and generation of DVI-relevant odontological datasets. The ability to create multiple reconstruction formats from a single volumetric acquisition, combined with the mobility and limited infrastructure requirements of the system, may provide a technical basis for future evaluation in forensic odontology workflows in routine casework, temporary mortuary facilities, and disaster victim identification deployments. Further studies are warranted to evaluate diagnostic performance and operational implementation in DVI settings.