Midline facial soft tissue thickness database of Turkish population: MRI study

Three-dimensional prediction of the nose for facial reconstruction: A preliminary study on North Indian adults

Forensic facial reconstruction is the last recourse to establish the identity of an unknown skull. The facial soft-tissue thickness (FSTT) is required to reconstruct various facial features on a skull. Unlike other facial features, the nose is made of cartilaginous tissue except for a small nasal bone. A large cavity (pyriform aperture) exists on the skull in place of the nose, which makes it a challenging job for reconstruction. The nose is a vital feature for the recognition of a face. Any change in the shape or size of the nose can alter the original aesthetic of the face. The present study proposes angles and regression functions on the bony structure to predict the various parts of the soft nose. A sample of computed tomography (CT) images of 100 males and 100 females aged between 18 and 45 years were included in the study. Apart from measuring fourteen linear parameters with three angles, simple linear regression models were derived for five pairs of parameters. Pearson's correlation coefficients for most of the parameters ranging between 0.221 and 0.872 were found to be significant at p ≤ 0.05 level. FSTT at three anatomical landmarks of the nose was also measured. A morphological observation study was undertaken to find the most frequent direction of the bony anterior nasal spine (ans) and its relation with the position of the pronasale (prn) on the soft nose. The devised parameters proposed in the study may also prove useful for reconstructing the nose in other populations.

Global facial soft tissue thicknesses for craniofacial identification (2023): a review of 140 years of data since Welcker's first study

This year (2023) marks 140 years since the first publication of a facial soft tissue thickness (FSTT) study. Since 1883, a total of 139 studies have been published, collectively tallying > 220,000 tissue thickness measurements of > 19,500 adults. In just the last 5-years, 33 FSTT studies have been conducted. Herein, we add these data (plus an additional 20 studies) to the 2018 T-Table to provide an update of > 81,000 new datapoints to the global tallied facial soft tissue depths table. In contrast to the original 2008 T-Table, some notable changes are as follows: increased FSTTs by 3 mm at infra second molar (ecm2-iM2'), 2.5 mm at gonion (go-go'), 2 mm at mid-ramus (mr-mr'), and 1.5 mm at zygion (zy-zy'). Rolling grand means indicate that stable values have been attained for all nine median FSTT landmarks, while six out of nine bilateral landmarks continue to show ongoing fluctuations, indicating further data collection at these landmarks holds value. When used as point estimators for individuals with known values across 24 landmarks (i.e., C-Table data), the updated grand means produce slightly less estimation error than the 2018 T-Table means (3.5 mm versus 3.6 mm, respectively). Future efforts to produce less noisy datasets (i.e., reduce measurement and sampling errors as much as possible between studies) would be useful.

Examination of Facial Convexity and Concavity Values With Reference to the External Acoustic Pore: A Retrospective Study

The human skull serves as an essential material for facial reconstruction. In particular, the petrous part of the temporal bone is vital due to its compact structure, which can resist mechanical forces. The study aims to give descriptive values to estimate the face shape and produce regression formulas through the external acoustic pore as a reference point. The study was carried out on 3-dimensional computed tomography images, a total of 83 adult images (45 females and 38 males) in the Department of Radiology of Bursa Uludag University Medical Faculty. The distances between the imaginary vertical line passing through the porion and the anthropometric points revealing the facial features were measured for the soft and hard tissue. The vertical distances between the soft and hard tissue landmarks were also measured for both sexes. Measurements were performed with the Image J program, and for the statistical analysis, SPSS 25.0 was used (P < 0.005). Linear simple regression analysis was used to produce formulas to estimate the soft tissue thickness using hard tissue. Also, discriminant function analysis was performed to determine sex in the presence of an unknown skull. The descriptive values of the variables on the axial and vertical planes and the differences between sexes are given. Also, all formulas make accurate predictions of 90% or more. The authors tried to estimate the anatomical points that roughly reveal the facial features with the regression formulas developed using anthropometric measurements. The authors think that the shape of the face, which is more specific to the individual, can be reached more clearly using mathematical models, and the authors believe that this study will set an example for future studies.

Measurement of soft tissue deformation at discomfort and pain threshold in different regions of the head

Understanding of product-soft tissue interface and related discomfort is essential while designing wearable devices. Although pressure thresholds at the perception of discomfort and pain have been measured in the past, associated tissue deformation is yet to be studied. This data can provide a holistic understanding of user discomfort and be a valuable reference for ergonomic product design. Hence, in the current study, tissue deformation at discomfort and pain threshold was measured using an ultrasound indentation device at 18 landmarks for 83 Chinese adults on the head and face. Results show that deformation was higher in the facial region than the scalp and forehead, with maximum deformation in the cheek area and minimum in the forehead region for both thresholds. Also, for most landmarks, the tissue deformation data showed no significant relationship with age and Body Mass Index (BMI). Nearly half of the landmarks exhibited significant gender-based differences. Overall, the measured data showed acceptable within-session and between-session reliability. Practitioner Summary: In this study, tissue deformation was measured in different head regions for discomfort and pain thresholds, and corresponding deformation maps were developed. Measured tissue deformation data showed no significant relationship with BMI and age. This data can be a useful reference in the design, testing, and evaluation of headgears.

Age-Related Changes in Facial Soft Tissue of Han Chinese: A Computed Tomographic Study

BACKGROUND

Facial lifting and volume restoration are the major strategies of facial rejuvenation, but the aging of facial soft tissues has not been sufficiently explored.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to reveal the age-related changes in full facial soft tissue of Han Chinese by using computed tomography.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The measurements were performed on head computed tomographic images of 200 Han Chinese subjects (100 men and 100 women). The thickness of facial soft tissue was measured at 20 anthropological landmarks of the skull.

RESULTS

The thickness at rhinion was increased, whereas the thickness at midphiltrum, supradentale, and infradentale was decreased, indicating the significant differences in both sexes. Besides, the thickness at glabella, nasion, supramentale, and menton was decreased significantly in women. The thickness at supraorbital and lateral orbit was increased with aging in either sex. The thickness at frontal eminence, infraorbital, supraglenoid, and gonion showed significant age-related increases in women, and the thickness at zygomatic arch, supra M2, and infra M2 was significantly decreased in men.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that soft tissues in different areas of the face are selectively thickened or thinned with aging, thus providing a reference for rejuvenation procedures.

Testing regression and mean model approaches to facial soft-tissue thickness estimation

Average facial soft-tissue thickness (FSTT) databanks are continuously developed and applied within craniofacial identification. This study considered and tested a subject-specific regression model alternative for estimating the FSTT values for oral midline landmarks using skeletal projection measurements. Measurements were taken from cone-beam computed tomography scans of 100 South African individuals (60 male, 40 female; M_age = 35 years). Regression equations incorporating sex categories were generated. This significantly improved the goodness-of-fit (r²-value). Validation tests compared the constructed regression models with mean FSTT data collected from this study, existing South African FSTT data, a universal total weighted mean approach with pooled demographic data and collection techniques and a regression model approach that uses bizygomatic width and maximum cranial breadth dimensions. The generated regression equations demonstrated individualised results, presenting a total mean inaccuracy (TMI) of 1.53 mm using dental projection measurements and 1.55 mm using cemento-enamel junction projection measurements. These slightly outperformed most tested mean models (TMI ranged from 1.42 to 4.43 mm), and substantially outperformed the pre-existing regression model approach (TMI = 5.12 mm). The newly devised regressions offer a subject-specific solution to FSTT estimation within a South African population. A continued development in sample size and validation testing may help substantiate its application within craniofacial identification.

Lip morphology estimation models based on three-dimensional images in a modern adult population from China

Lips are the main part of the lower facial soft tissue and are vital to forensic facial approximation (FFA). Facial soft tissue thickness (FSTT) and linear measurements in three dimensions are used in the quantitative analysis of lip morphology. With most FSTT analysis methods, the surface of soft tissue is unexplicit. Our study aimed to determine FSTT and explore the relationship between the hard and soft tissues of lips in different skeletal occlusions based on cone-beam CT (CBCT) and 3dMD images in a Chinese population. The FSTT of 11 landmarks in CBCT and 29 lip measurements in CBCT and 3dMD of 180 healthy Chinese individuals (90 males, 90 females) between 18 and 30 years were analyzed. The subjects were randomly divided into two groups with different skeletal occlusions distributed equally: 156 subjects in the experimental group to establish the prediction regression formulae of lip morphology and 24 subjects in the test group to assess the accuracy of the formulae. The results indicated that FSTT in the lower lip region varied among different skeletal occlusions. Furthermore, sex discrepancy was noted in the FSTT in midline landmarks and linear measurements. Measurements showing the highest correlation between soft and hard tissues were between total upper lip height and Ns-Pr (0.563 in males, 0.651 in females). The stepwise multiple regression equations were verified to be reliable with an average error of 1.246 mm. The method of combining CBCT with 3dMD provides a new perspective in predicting lip morphology and expands the database for FFA.

Facial soft tissue depth measurements in cone-beam computed tomography: A study of a Brazilian sample

Forensic facial reconstruction (approximation) (FFR) is an aid to human identification when no presumed identity is available. It is based on average soft tissue thickness (STT) applied onto a skull. These averages vary at each landmark according to sex, ancestry, and Facial Growth Patterns (FGP). To obtain the reference, there are different protocols and conditions, such as needles in cadavers, ultrasound, magnetic resonance, and computer tomography. Using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), landmark placement and direction of measurement are critical. The purpose of this article is to detailly describe a method for STT measurement in CBCT DICOM files and to test it in the analysis of a multi-ancestral Brazilian sample, subdivided into sex, age and FGP. A sample of 100 (50 male and 50 female) CBCT exams were selected and the volume was primarily been repositioned to cephalometric standards. A detailed description of the location and measurement direction of 32 landmarks was provided and granted good reproducibility of the measurements. The averages were assessed by sex, age, and FGP. There were significant differences between males and females. The CBCT measuring protocol provided standardization of measurements and is a method to be used in future researches. Advantages of CBCT, such as the subject's upright position and adjustable volume positioning, also justify its usage. Limited differences of STT were related to age and FGP. The updated Brazilian soft tissue thickness chart is a reliable source of data for forensic and clinical purposes.

Soft Tissue Thickness Variations of the Nose: A Radiological Study

BACKGROUND

Soft tissue thickness (STT) is a major factor affecting the outcome in rhinoplasty. However, limited information is found in the literature on the age- and gender-related variations of the nasal STT.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to measure STT at various landmarks over the nasal framework and compare the age- and gender-related differences.

METHODS

STT measurements were made at 11 landmarks in 325 patients by employing magnetic resonance imaging. Patients were divided into subgroups to compare the STT differences between female and male and between the age groups as young, middle age, and elderly.

RESULTS

Soft tissue was thickest at the nasion and thinnest at the rhinion. The soft tissue coverage was significantly thicker in the male population at the supratip, tip, nasal bones, upper lateral cartilages, and alar lobules, whereas it is thicker in females at the rhinion. Average thickness of the soft tissues over the entire nasal framework increases with age except the rhinion.

CONCLUSIONS

The STT is variable over different parts of the osteocartilaginous framework. Gender and age influence the STT. The soft tissue is thicker at the distal half of the nose in male patients, and these areas become gradually thicker with age, whereas the soft tissue over the midvault becomes thinner. Increasing age presents a particular challenge to achieve predictable results in rhinoplasty, and an understanding of the soft tissue envelope allows for improved aesthetic outcome.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 2

Facial average soft tissue depth variation based on skeletal classes in Indonesian adult population: A retrospective lateral cephalometric study

OBJECTIVE

To understand the influence of three types of skeletal classes (Class I, Class II and Class III) on midline average soft tissue depth (ASTD).

METHODS

Lateral cephalograms of 335 pre-treatment orthodontic patients were obtained from the archive of Radiology Clinic Universitas Padjadjaran Dental Hospital Bandung Indonesia. The linear measurements of 10 midline facial landmarks ASTD and angular measurement of ANB were extracted and analysed statistically.

RESULTS

A database of ASTD grouped by skeletal classes, specific for the Indonesian population, within the South East Asian ancestry group was obtained.

CONCLUSIONS

A generic pattern of deeper upper lip than lower lip in class III compared to class II and conversely, deeper lower lip than upper lip in class II compared to class III, was visible in both male and female groups.

Facial soft tissue thicknesses in craniofacial identification: Data collection protocols and associated measurement errors

Facial soft tissue thicknesses (FSTT) form a key component of craniofacial identification methods, but as for any data, embedded measurement errors are highly pertinent. These in part dictate the effective resolution of the measurements. As herein reviewed, measurement methods are highly varied in FSTT studies and associated measurement errors have generally not been paid much attention. Less than half (44%) of 95 FSTT studies comment on measurement error and not all of these provide specific quantification. Where informative error measurement protocols are employed (5% of studies), the mean error magnitudes range from 3% to 45% rTEM and are typically in the order of 10-20%. These values demonstrate that FSTT measurement errors are similar in size to (and likely larger than) the magnitudes of many biological effects being chased. As a result, the attribution of small millimeter or submillimeter differences in FSTT to biological variables must be undertaken with caution, especially where they have not been repeated across different studies/samples. To improve the integrity of FSTT studies and the reporting of FSTT measurement errors, we propose the following standard: (1) calculate the technical error of measurement (TEM or rTEM) in any FSTT research work; (2) assess the error embedded in the full data collection procedure; and (3) conduct validation testing of FSTT means proposed for point estimation prior to publication to ensure newly calculated FSTT means provide improvements. In order to facilitate the latter, a freely available R tool TDValidator that uses the C-Table data for validation testing is provided.

Medical Imaging and Facial Soft Tissue Thickness Studies for Forensic Craniofacial Approximation: A Pilot Study on Modern Cretans

Forensic cases may require craniofacial approximations for unidentifiable victims. The accuracy of these approximations is improved by using population-specific average soft tissue depths. This study used CT scans from 64 Cretan adults (32 male and 32 female) to produce three-dimensional models of each individual's cranium and skin surface. Using the models, the soft tissue depths were measured at 36 craniofacial landmarks; the means and standard deviations were calculated for the general Cretan population, and for male and female Cretans separately. Cretan facial soft tissue depths were then compared to those of French, Slovak, and Korean adults. 16 of the 36 landmarks exhibited sex differences among Cretans, with males having consistently thicker depths than females. The facial soft tissue depths of Cretan adults also presented significant differences when compared to other populations. Overall, the average soft tissue depths obtained represent the first database for the craniofacial approximation of Cretan (Greek) adults.

Influence of heritability on craniofacial soft tissue characteristics of monozygotic twins, dizygotic twins, and their siblings using Falconer's method and principal components analysis

Objective

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of heritability on the craniofacial soft tissue cephalometric characteristics of monozygotic (MZ) twins, dizygotic (DZ) twins, and their siblings (SIB).

Methods

The samples comprised Korean adult twins and their siblings (mean age, 39.8 years; MZ group, n = 36 pairs; DZ group, n = 13 pairs of the same gender; and SIB group, n = 26 pairs of the same gender). Thirty cephalometric variables were measured to characterize facial profile, facial height, soft-tissue thickness, and projection of nose and lip. Falconer's method was used to calculate heritability (low heritability, h² < 0.2; high heritability, h² > 0.9). After principal components analysis (PCA) was performed to extract the models, we calculated the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) value and heritability of each component.

Results

The MZ group exhibited higher ICC values for all cephalometric variables than DZ and SIB groups. Among cephalometric variables, the highest h²_(MZ-DZ) and h²_(MZ-SIB) values were observed for the nasolabial angle (NLA, 1.544 and 2.036), chin angle (1.342 and 1.112), soft tissue chin thickness (2.872 and 1.226), and upper lip thickness ratio (1.592 and 1.026). PCA derived eight components with 84.5% of a cumulative explanation. The components that exhibited higher values of h²_(MZ-DZ) and h²_(MZ-SIB) were PCA2, which includes facial convexity, NLA, and nose projection (1.026 and 0.972), and PCA7, which includes chin angle and soft tissue chin thickness (2.107 and 1.169).

Conclusions

The nose and soft tissue chin were more influenced by genetic factors than other soft tissues.

An overview of the latest developments in facial imaging

Facial imaging is a term used to describe methods that use facial images to assist or facilitate human identification. This pertains to two craniofacial identification procedures that use skulls and faces-facial approximation and photographic superimposition-as well as face-only methods for age progression/regression, the construction of facial graphics from eyewitness memory (including composites and artistic sketches), facial depiction, face mapping and newly emerging methods of molecular photofitting. Given the breadth of these facial imaging techniques, it is not surprising that a broad array of subject-matter experts participate in and/or contribute to the formulation and implementation of these methods (including forensic odontologists, forensic artists, police officers, electrical engineers, anatomists, geneticists, medical image specialists, psychologists, computer graphic programmers and software developers). As they are concerned with the physical characteristics of humans, each of these facial imaging areas also falls in the domain of physical anthropology, although not all of them have been traditionally regarded as such. This too offers useful opportunities to adapt established methods in one domain to others more traditionally held to be disciplines within physical anthropology (e.g. facial approximation, craniofacial superimposition and face photo-comparison). It is important to note that most facial imaging methods are not currently used for identification but serve to assist authorities in narrowing or directing investigations such that other, more potent, methods of identification can be used (e.g. DNA). Few, if any, facial imaging approaches can be considered honed end-stage scientific methods, with major opportunities for physical anthropologists to make meaningful contributions. Some facial imaging methods have considerably stronger scientific underpinnings than others (e.g. facial approximation versus face mapping), some currently lie entirely within the artistic sphere (facial depiction), and yet others are so aspirational that realistic capacity to obtain their aims has strongly been questioned despite highly advanced technical approaches (molecular photofitting). All this makes for a broad-ranging, dynamic and energetic field that is in a constant state of flux. This manuscript provides a theoretical snapshot of the purposes of these methods, the state of science as it pertains to them, and their latest research developments.

Facial Soft Tissue Thickness of Midline in an Iranian Sample: MRI Study

BACKGROUND AND AIM

To identify human skeletal remains, different methods can be used and using these techniques, important data can be obtained. However, facial reconstruction is the last method to indentify unknown human faces which requires knowledge about facial soft tissue thickness in the different positions of the face. The present study determined the facial soft tissue thickness in the different landmark points on the MRI images of patients referred to Radiology Department of Shahid Madani Hospital.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this descriptive cross-sectional trial, MRI images of 179 patients (61 males, 118 females) in the age range of 18-76 years old who did not show any pathologic lesions, were selected. The measurements of the facial soft tissue were done on 12 landmark points on the midline area by two radiologist observers using specific software on the images. The differences in the soft tissue thickness in these landmark points were statistically analyzed by Mann-Whitney U (in term of gender) and Kruskal-Wallis tests (in terms of Body Mass Index [BMI] and age groups). P value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The data were compared with the results of other studies.

RESULTS

The results obtained in the present study were higher than Turkish and American studies in most of the landmark points. Facial soft tissue thickness in most of the landmarks was more in males than females. In some of the landmarks, significant differences were found between emaciated, normal and overweight patients while in most cases, soft tissue thickness increased with the increased BMI. In some cases, significant differences were noted between soft tissue thickness values among the different age groups, in which the thickness increased or thinned with the increased age.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

There were statistically significant associations between the presence and surface area of Haller cells and the occurrence of ipsilateral maxillary sinusitis. Neither the angulation of the uncinate process nor the size of the maxillary sinus ostium significantly correlates with the formation of maxillary sinusitis.

CONCLUSION

The data achieved in the present study can be used for the facial reconstruction purposes in the Iranian population; however, the slight differences existing between the studied population and other subgroup races must be considered for accurate reconstructions.

Densely calculated facial soft tissue thickness for craniofacial reconstruction in Chinese adults

Craniofacial reconstruction (CFR) is used to recreate a likeness of original facial appearance for an unidentified skull; this technique has been applied in both forensics and archeology. Many CFR techniques rely on the average facial soft tissue thickness (FSTT) of anatomical landmarks, related to ethnicity, age, sex, body mass index (BMI), etc. Previous studies typically employed FSTT at sparsely distributed anatomical landmarks, where different landmark definitions may affect the contrasting results. In the present study, a total of 90,198 one-to-one correspondence skull vertices are established on 171 head CT-scans and the FSTT of each corresponding vertex is calculated (hereafter referred to as densely calculated FSTT) for statistical analysis and CFR. Basic descriptive statistics (i.e., mean and standard deviation) for densely calculated FSTT are reported separately according to sex and age. Results show that 76.12% of overall vertices indicate that the FSTT is greater in males than females, with the exception of vertices around the zygoma, zygomatic arch and mid-lateral orbit. These sex-related significant differences are found at 55.12% of all vertices and the statistically age-related significant differences are depicted between the three age groups at a majority of all vertices (73.31% for males and 63.43% for females). Five non-overlapping categories are given and the descriptive statistics (i.e., mean, standard deviation, local standard deviation and percentage) are reported. Multiple appearances are produced using the densely calculated FSTT of various age and sex groups, and a quantitative assessment is provided to examine how relevant the choice of FSTT is to increasing the accuracy of CFR. In conclusion, this study provides a new perspective in understanding the distribution of FSTT and the construction of a new densely calculated FSTT database for craniofacial reconstruction.

Accuracies of facial soft tissue depth means for estimating ground truth skin surfaces in forensic craniofacial identification

Facial soft tissue thickness means have long been used as a proxy to estimate the soft tissue envelope, over the skull, in craniofacial identification. However, estimation errors of these statistics are not well understood, making casework selection of the best performing estimation models impossible and overarching method accuracies controversial. To redress this situation, residuals between predicted and ground truth values were calculated in two experiments: (1) for 27 suites of means drawn from 10 recently published studies, all examining the same 10 landmarks (N ≥ 3051), and tested against six independent raw datasets of contemporary living adults (N = 797); and (2) pairwise tests of the above six, and five other, raw datasets (N = 1063). In total, 380 out-of-sample tests of 416 arithmetic means were conducted across 11 independent samples. Experiment 1 produced an overarching mean absolute percentage error (MAE) of 29% and a standard error of the estimate (S(est)) of 2.7 mm. Experiment 2 yielded MAE of 32% and S(est) of 2.8 mm. In any instance, MAE was always ≥20% of the ground truth value. The overarching 95% limits of the error, for contemporary samples, was large (11.4 mm). CT-derived means from South Korean males and Black South African females routinely performed well across the test samples and produced the smallest errors of any tests (but did so for Black American male reference samples). Sample-specific statistics thereby performed poorly despite discipline esteem. These results—and the practice of publishing means without prior model validation—demand major reforms in the field.

The application of the central limit theorem and the law of large numbers to facial soft tissue depths: T-Table robustness and trends since 2008

By pooling independent study means (x¯), the T-Tables use the central limit theorem and law of large numbers to average out study-specific sampling bias and instrument errors and, in turn, triangulate upon human population means (μ). Since their first publication in 2008, new data from >2660 adults have been collected (c.30% of the original sample) making a review of the T-Table's robustness timely. Updated grand means show that the new data have negligible impact on the previously published statistics: maximum change = 1.7 mm at gonion; and ≤1 mm at 93% of all landmarks measured. This confirms the utility of the 2008 T-Table as a proxy to soft tissue depth population means and, together with updated sample sizes (8851 individuals at pogonion), earmarks the 2013 T-Table as the premier mean facial soft tissue depth standard for craniofacial identification casework. The utility of the T-Table, in comparison with shorths and 75-shormaxes, is also discussed.

Is characterizing the digital forensic facial reconstruction with hair necessary? A familiar assessors' analysis

BACKGROUND

In the international scientific literature, there are few studies that emphasize the presence or absence of hair in forensic facial reconstructions. There are neither Brazilian studies concerning digital facial reconstructions without hair, nor research comparing recognition tests between digital facial reconstructions with hair and without hair. The miscegenation of Brazilian people is considerable. Brazilian people, and, in particular, Brazilian women, even if considered as Caucasoid, may present the hair in very different ways: curly, wavy or straight, blonde, red, brown or black, long or short, etc. For this reason, it is difficult to find a correct type of hair for facial reconstruction (unless, in real cases, some hair is recovered with the skeletal remains).

AIMS AND METHODS

This study focuses on the performance of three different digital forensic facial reconstructions, without hair, of a Brazilian female subject (based on one international database and two Brazilian databases for soft facial-tissue thickness) and evaluates the digital forensic facial reconstructions comparing them to photographs of the target individual and nine other subjects, employing the recognition method. A total of 22 assessors participated in the recognition process; all of them were familiar with the 10 individuals who composed the face pool.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

The target subject was correctly recognized by 41% of the 22 examiners in the International Pattern, by 32% in the Brazilian Magnetic Resonance Pattern and by 32% in the Brazilian Fresh Cadavers Pattern. The facial reconstructions without hair were correctly recognized using the three databases of facial soft-tissue thickness. The observed results were higher than the results obtained using facial reconstructions with hair, from the same skull, which can indicate that it is better to not use hair, at least when there is no information concerning its characteristics.