The use of cone beam computed tomography in forensic radiology

• CBCT is suggested as an alternative to conventional CT in some cases of postmortem imaging.
• Practical advantages include relatively small size, portability, and low cost.
• Technical advantages include good spatial resolution and metal artifact reduction.
• Limitations include limited field size and limited soft tissue contrast.

Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) is a relatively recently-developed CT technology that is currently used primarily in maxillofacial applications. CBCT may also be very useful in some forensic contexts, offering several advantages for postmortem forensic imaging including good resolution for skeletal imaging, relatively low cost, portability, and simplicity. Here we present an overview of CBCT technology, comparing and contrasting to conventional CT in regards to various forensic applications, and conclude that CBCT may be an advantageous and accessible alternative in many cases.