Asian Journal of Medical Research and Case Reports

Dermatoglyphics refers to the study of epidermal ridge patterns on the fingers, palms, toes and soles. This narrative review examines dermatoglyphics as a potential anatomical marker in medical diagnostics, information and communication technology (ICT) and forensic applications, while considering associated ethical issues. Literature published between 2015 and 2025 was reviewed through searches of PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science, with emphasis on peer-reviewed studies, systematic reviews and primary research addressing medical, psychological or forensic outcomes. The reviewed evidence indicates that ridge counts, pattern types and palmar configurations have been associated with selected congenital, neurodevelopmental, systemic and metabolic conditions, including Down syndrome, Turner syndrome, autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia and diabetes mellitus. These associations support the possible use of dermatoglyphics as a low-cost and non-invasive adjunct in screening and risk assessment, particularly in settings where advanced diagnostic tools are limited. ICT-based approaches, including high-resolution digital scanning, automated fingerprint identification systems, artificial intelligence, mobile health applications, multimodal biometrics, 3D imaging and blockchain-supported data protection, have improved the capture, classification and interpretation of ridge patterns. Forensic applications remain important because fingerprints provide stable and individualising biometric information for human identification. However, current evidence is limited by methodological heterogeneity, small sample sizes, population-specific findings, limited longitudinal data and concerns about algorithmic bias. Dermatoglyphics should therefore be interpreted as a supportive marker rather than a stand-alone diagnostic or predictive tool. Future research should prioritise standardised ridge analysis protocols, larger and more diverse cohorts, responsible ICT integration and clear ethical safeguards for privacy, consent and biometric data governance.