Research Computing Services Blog

3D Slicer at the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine

Post by Jasamine Coles-Black and Louise van der Werff

Recently we ran two 3D Slicer for Beginners workshops at the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine (VIFM) in Southbank. This opportunity was organised by Andrea Hince, Communications Manager at VIFM, who also helped to facilitate Paul Mignones visit to VIFM last year, and was conceived after speaking with Forensic Egyptologist Dr Janet Davey, who is interested in exploring ways of generating 3 dimensional models from the CT scans of mummys, particularly children.

Attendees were predominantly staff at VIFM, with backgrounds including but not limited to Clinical Forensic Pathology, Forensic Medicine, Forensic Training and Development, Forensic Radiology, Forensic Communications, Forensic Mortuary Science, Forensic Anthropology and more.

@JasamineCB taking the lead for our #3Dslicer training at VIFM. Everyone seems quite impressed! @resplat #resbaz pic.twitter.com/jAjjrtevjP

— Louise van der Werff (@LouWerff)

May 16, 2016

As with previous workshops, we predominantly focussed on segmenting anatomical features from medical image datasets such as MRI and CT scans, and generating 3D models of those features, which can then be viewed and interacted with virtually or 3D printed into a physical object. Most participants were unfamiliar with 3D Slicer and were interested in better grasping the potential of 3D modelling and 3D printing as a tool (e.g. educational, investigational) in the clinical forensic domain. Of particular interest was 3D Slicer’s ability to visualise and extract anatomical information from CT scans.

Some potential reasons presented for this capability in forensics include being able to demonstrate anatomical features and structures in the courtroom (e.g. by producing 3D models for court demonstrations), for Medico-legal death investigations, for teaching and training purposes, and historical forensic investigations.

@LouWerff impressing the staff at VIFM with #3Dslicer potential right now. #3Dprinting Ping @ResPlat @PJMignone pic.twitter.com/pjMEPhCCfB

— Deluxe Minimalist (@Hincerooney)

April 19, 2016

Dr Chris O’Donnell, who participated in the first workshop in April, spoke about 3D printing in forensics during last years 3D Printing for Medical Applications Seminar, held at Carlton Connect. You can watch his talk “Use of 3D prints in medico-legal death investigation” here. Chris O’Donnell and his team scans thousands of diseased bodies each year, as a way of looking into a body without having to conduct an autopsy (or in addition to an autopsy), and in cases where deaths are unexpected or suspicious, or when identities are unknown. The collected data can be used as evidence in court, presented not to medical professionals but to lay public such as defendants, judges, jury members and lawyers, and as such, clarity of that information is very important. The generation of 3 dimensional virtual representations of anatomy can greatly assist in conveying medical concepts, and 3D printed specimens are seen as another valuable addition to the evidence. Examples presented include a large volume haemopericardium, lacerations to a kidney, and fatal skull fractures.

In addition, medical image processing has been used in the forensic literature with great effect. In one case report, the victim’s skull was segmented from an antemortem CT scan in order to successfully identity the murder weapon via virtual modelling of the skull, as well as comparing a 3D printed replica of the victim’s skull to the matching weapon. (1) These techniques were used to circumvent the obstacles created by medical intervention and the healing process.

Image source

In another similar case of blunt trauma to the skull, a major benefit cited by the group was the ability to maintain the dignity of the victim while still providing an excellent 3D representation of the deceased’s anatomical structures and injuries for presentations in the courtroom. (2)

During the recent courses we have run at VIFM, we have instructed our participants in how to use 3D Slicer to generate similar skull models from medical imaging, as pictured below. The skull was automatically segmented from the surrounding tissue using first principles - in this case, the difference in Hounsfield units, or relative radiodensity, of the dense skull bones compared to the surrounding less dense soft tissue, was used to separate the two.

Image source

If you feel like you’ve missed out, fear not! This content was not a VIFM exclusive. If you would like to learn how to do this, feel free to sign up for our next 3D Slicer for Beginners course and we’d love to show you how!

Automatic segmentation of a skull using the thresholding tool in 3D Slicer. Come along to our next course if you’d like to learn how to do this!

Our next 3D Slicer For Beginners course will be on the 4-5th July, 9am-1pm both days, at the CoLab, Old Quad (G08). Sign up here, and we’ll catch you there!

1. Woźniak K, Rzepecka-Woźniak E, Moskała A, Pohl J, Latacz K, Dybała B. Weapon identification using antemortem computed tomography with virtual 3D and rapid prototype modeling—A report in a case of blunt force head injury. Forensic Science International. 2012;222(1-3):e29-e32.
2. Kettner M, Schmidt P, Potente S, Ramsthaler F, Schrodt M. Reverse Engineering-Rapid Prototyping of the Skull in Forensic Trauma Analysis. Journal of Forensic Sciences. 2011;56(4):1015-1017.