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Zhang ZY, Yan CX, Min QM, Zhang YX, Jing WF, Hou WX, Pan KY. Leverage Effective Deep Learning Searching Method for Forensic Age Estimation. Bioengineering (Basel) 2024; 11:674. [PMID: 39061756 PMCID: PMC11273923 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering11070674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2024] [Revised: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Dental age estimation is extensively employed in forensic medicine practice. However, the accuracy of conventional methods fails to satisfy the need for precision, particularly when estimating the age of adults. Herein, we propose an approach for age estimation utilizing orthopantomograms (OPGs). We propose a new dental dataset comprising OPGs of 27,957 individuals (16,383 females and 11,574 males), covering an age range from newborn to 93 years. The age annotations were meticulously verified using ID card details. Considering the distinct nature of dental data, we analyzed various neural network components to accurately estimate age, such as optimal network depth, convolution kernel size, multi-branch architecture, and early layer feature reuse. Building upon the exploration of distinctive characteristics, we further employed the widely recognized method to identify models for dental age prediction. Consequently, we discovered two sets of models: one exhibiting superior performance, and the other being lightweight. The proposed approaches, namely AGENet and AGE-SPOS, demonstrated remarkable superiority and effectiveness in our experimental results. The proposed models, AGENet and AGE-SPOS, showed exceptional effectiveness in our experiments. AGENet outperformed other CNN models significantly by achieving outstanding results. Compared to Inception-v4, with the mean absolute error (MAE) of 1.70 and 20.46 B FLOPs, our AGENet reduced the FLOPs by 2.7×. The lightweight model, AGE-SPOS, achieved an MAE of 1.80 years with only 0.95 B FLOPs, surpassing MobileNetV2 by 0.18 years while utilizing fewer computational operations. In summary, we employed an effective DNN searching method for forensic age estimation, and our methodology and findings hold significant implications for age estimation with oral imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Yong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Shaanxi Province for Craniofacial Precision Medicine Research, College of Stomatology, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710004, China;
- College of Forensic Medicine, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi’an 710061, China
- Department of Orthodontics, The Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi’an 710004, China
| | - Chun-Xia Yan
- College of Forensic Medicine, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi’an 710061, China
| | - Qiao-Mei Min
- Department of Orthodontics, The Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi’an 710004, China
| | - Yu-Xiang Zhang
- College of Forensic Medicine, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi’an 710061, China
| | - Wen-Fan Jing
- Department of Radiology, The Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi’an 710004, China
| | - Wen-Xuan Hou
- School of Electronic and Information Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
| | - Ke-Yang Pan
- School of Electronic and Information Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
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Secco L, Padalino P, Franceschetto L, Viero A, Pizzi M, De Conti G, Viel G, Fais P, Giraudo C, Cecchetto G. Micro-CT evaluation of morphological degenerative features of sterno-clavicular joint for age-at-death estimation in forensic anthropology - A qualitative analysis. Leg Med (Tokyo) 2024; 67:102374. [PMID: 38157674 DOI: 10.1016/j.legalmed.2023.102374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
The analysis of the sternoclavicular joint holds significant importance in forensic anthropology, especially through the evaluation of medial clavicular ossification stage, which, however, is helpful only in subjects younger than 30 years of age. Given this limitation, the aim of the present work was to examine, through micro-CT, the surface of sternoclavicular joints of deceased individuals across various age groups, aiming to identify age-related degenerative changes applicable to age estimation in adults over 30 years old. A total of 41 deceased subjects were categorized into three age groups (20-39 years; 40-59 years; ≥60 years) for the analysis. Degenerative morphological features on both clavicular and sternal articular surfaces, including topography, porosity, and presence of osteophytes, were evaluated using a composite scoring system based on a modified "Falys-Prangle method.", which assigns to each parameter specific score ranges: 1-3 for surface topography (smooth, slightly irregular, markedly irregular), 1-6 for porosity (absent, micro- and macroporosity for <50 % or >50 % of surface, surface breakdown), 1-3 for osteophytes (absent, present, not evaluable). The findings revealed a positive correlation between degenerative morphological features and age for both clavicular (rs = 0.719) and sternal articular surfaces (rs = 0.750). Additionally, the combined assessment of the clavicle and sternum, or the evaluation of the clavicle alone, exhibited better differentiation among the three age groups. The micro-CT evaluation of degenerative alterations affecting the sternoclavicular joint proves to be a reliable and efficient method for age estimation in adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Secco
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, Unit of Legal Medicine and Toxicology, University of Padova, Via Falloppio 50, 35100 Padova, Italy
| | - Pasquale Padalino
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, Unit of Legal Medicine and Toxicology, University of Padova, Via Falloppio 50, 35100 Padova, Italy
| | - Lisa Franceschetto
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, Unit of Legal Medicine and Toxicology, University of Padova, Via Falloppio 50, 35100 Padova, Italy
| | - Alessia Viero
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, Unit of Legal Medicine and Toxicology, University of Padova, Via Falloppio 50, 35100 Padova, Italy
| | - Marco Pizzi
- Radiology Unit, University-Hospital of Padova, Via Giustiniani 2, 35100 Padova, Italy
| | - Giorgio De Conti
- Radiology Unit, University-Hospital of Padova, Via Giustiniani 2, 35100 Padova, Italy
| | - Guido Viel
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, Unit of Legal Medicine and Toxicology, University of Padova, Via Falloppio 50, 35100 Padova, Italy
| | - Paolo Fais
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Unit of Legal Medicine, University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 49, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Chiara Giraudo
- Radiology Unit, University-Hospital of Padova, Via Giustiniani 2, 35100 Padova, Italy
| | - Giovanni Cecchetto
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, Unit of Legal Medicine and Toxicology, University of Padova, Via Falloppio 50, 35100 Padova, Italy.
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Lopatin O, Barszcz M, Bolechała F, Woźniak K. Analysis of various radiological age-assessment methods in children, adolescents and young adults regarding the differences between the sexes and sides of the body - A comparative review. Leg Med (Tokyo) 2023; 65:102329. [PMID: 37832470 DOI: 10.1016/j.legalmed.2023.102329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
A total of 76 articles published within the last twenty years, indexed in the PubMed and ResearchGate databases, were reviewed in order to compare medical imaging-based methods of age estimation of children, adolescents and young adults. The evaluated studies were analyzed for any statistically significant differences between the sexes and sides of the body, sample sizes, and population age. Irrespective of the evaluation method, there were some studies that showed a statistically significant differences in ossification stages between the male and female groups. Most of the studies whose authors conducted a statistical analysis demonstrated no significant differences between the left and right side of the body.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oleksiy Lopatin
- Chair and Department of Forensic Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
| | - Marta Barszcz
- Chair and Department of Forensic Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland; Doctoral School of Medical and Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
| | - Filip Bolechała
- Chair and Department of Forensic Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Woźniak
- Chair and Department of Forensic Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland.
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Ruder TD, Kuhnen SC, Zech WD, Klaus JB, Lombardo P, Ith M. Standards of practice in forensic age estimation with CT of the medial clavicular epiphysis-a systematic review. Int J Legal Med 2023; 137:1757-1766. [PMID: 37691040 PMCID: PMC10567934 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-023-03061-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
The AGFAD (Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Forensische Alterdiagnostik, Study Group on Forensic Age Diagnostics) has published several recommendations regarding both technical aspects of computed tomography (CT) of the medial clavicular epiphysis (MCE) and the process of reading and interpreting the CT images for forensic age estimations (FAE). There are, however, no published recommendations regarding CT scan protocols and no dose reference values for CT of the MCE. The objective of this analysis was to assess adherence to AGFAD recommendations among practitioners of FAE and analyse reported dose-relevant CT scan parameters with the objective of helping to establish evidence-based dose reference values for FAE. A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed and in Google Scholar with specific MeSH terms to identify original research articles on FAE with CT of the MCE from 1997 to 2022. A total of 48 studies were included. Adherence to AGFAD recommendations among practitioners of FAE is high regarding the use of Schmeling main stages (93%), bone window (79%), ≤ 1 mm CT slices (67%), axial/coronal CT images (65%), and Kellinghaus sub-stages (59%). The reporting of CT technique and CT dose-relevant scan parameters is heterogeneous and often incomplete in the current literature. Considering the success achieved by the AGFAD in creating standards of practice of FAE in living subjects, there is potential for the AGFAD to establish standards for radiation protection in FAE as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas D Ruder
- Institute of Diagnostic, Interventional and Pediatric Radiology, InselspitaI, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Freiburgstrasse, CH-3010, Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Saskia C Kuhnen
- Institute of Diagnostic, Interventional and Pediatric Radiology, InselspitaI, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Freiburgstrasse, CH-3010, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Wolf-Dieter Zech
- Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jeremias B Klaus
- Institute of Diagnostic, Interventional and Pediatric Radiology, InselspitaI, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Freiburgstrasse, CH-3010, Bern, Switzerland
- Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Roentgen Institute Thun, Thun, Switzerland
| | - Paolo Lombardo
- Institute of Diagnostic, Interventional and Pediatric Radiology, InselspitaI, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Freiburgstrasse, CH-3010, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Michael Ith
- Institute of Diagnostic, Interventional and Pediatric Radiology, InselspitaI, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Freiburgstrasse, CH-3010, Bern, Switzerland
- Radiation Protection, Image Processing Systems & Radiological Processes, Hirslanden Private Hospital Group, Zurich, Switzerland
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5
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Widek T, De Tobel J, Ehammer T, Genet P. Forensic age estimation in males by MRI based on the medial epiphysis of the clavicle. Int J Legal Med 2022; 137:679-689. [PMID: 36534129 PMCID: PMC10085911 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-022-02924-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
AbstractIncreasing cross-border migration has brought forensic age assessment into focus in recent decades. Forensic age estimation is based on the three pillars: physical and medical constitution, bone age, and tooth age. Part of the bone age examination includes the assessment of the medial end of the clavicles when the hand bones are already fully developed and a minority must be excluded. Recent research has brought MRI to the forefront as a radiation-free alternative for age assessment. However, there exits only a few studies with large sample size regarding the clavicles and with controversies about staging, motion artifacts, and exclusion based on anatomic norm variants. In the current prospective study, 338 central European male individuals between 13 and 24 years of age underwent MRI examination of the sternoclavicular region. Development was assessed by three blinded raters according to the staging system described by Schmeling et al. and Kellinghaus et al. and related to age by descriptive statistics and transition analyses with a cumulative probit model. In addition, reliability calculations were performed. No statistically significant developmental difference was found between the left and right clavicles. Inter-rater agreement was only moderate, but intra-rater agreement, on the other hand, was good. Stage 3c had a minimum age of 19.36 years and appears to be a good indicator of proof of majority. The minimum age of stage 4 was lower compared with other studies, 20.18 years, and therefore seems not to be an indicator of age of 21 years. In conclusion, we confirmed the value of clavicular MRI in the age estimation process. The transition analysis model is a good approach to circumvent the problems of age mimicry and samples that are not fully equilibrated. Given the moderate agreement between raters, a consensus reading is recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Widek
- Diagnostic and Research Institute of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
- BioTechMed, Graz, Austria.
| | - Jannick De Tobel
- Department of Diagnostic Sciences - Radiology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Geneva University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Pia Genet
- University Centre of Legal Medicine Lausanne, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
- University Centre of Legal Medicine Geneva, Geneva University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland
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Rüeger E, Hutmacher N, Eichelberger P, Löcherbach C, Albrecht S, Romann M. Ultrasound Imaging-Based Methods for Assessing Biological Maturity during Adolescence and Possible Application in Youth Sport: A Scoping Review. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 9:1985. [PMID: 36553428 PMCID: PMC9776568 DOI: 10.3390/children9121985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Bone maturity is an indicator for estimating the biological maturity of an individual. During adolescence, individuals show heterogeneous growth rates, and thus, differences in biological maturity should be considered in talent identification and development. Radiography of the left hand and wrist is considered the gold standard of biological maturity estimation. The use of ultrasound imaging (US) may be advantageous; however, its validity and reliability are under discussion. The aims of this scoping review are (1) to summarize the different methods for estimating biological maturity by US imaging in adolescents, (2) to obtain an overview of the level of validity and reliability of the methods, and (3) to point out the practicability and usefulness of ultrasound imaging in the field of youth sports. The search included articles published up to November 2022. The inclusion criteria stipulated that participants had to fall within the age range of 8 to 23 years and be free of bone disease and fractures in the region of interest. Nine body regions were investigated, while the hand and wrist were most commonly analyzed. US assessment methods were usually based on the estimation of a bone maturity stage, rather than a decimal bone age. Furthermore, 70% of the assessments were evaluated as applicable, 10% expressed restraint about implementation, and 20% were evaluated as not applicable. When tested, inter- and intra-rater reliability was high to excellent. Despite the absence of ionization, low costs, fast assessment, and accessibility, none of the US assessments could be referred to as a gold standard. If further development succeeds, its application has the potential to incorporate biological age into selection processes. This would allow for more equal opportunities in talent selection and thus make talent development fairer and more efficient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Rüeger
- Department of Elite Sport, Swiss Federal Institute of Sport Magglingen, 2532 Magglingen, Switzerland
| | - Nicole Hutmacher
- School of Health Professions, Physiotherapy, Bern University of Applied Science, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Patric Eichelberger
- School of Health Professions, Physiotherapy, Bern University of Applied Science, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Claus Löcherbach
- Swiss Olympic Medical Center, Swiss Federal Institute of Sport Magglingen, 2532 Magglingen, Switzerland
| | - Silvia Albrecht
- Swiss Olympic Medical Center, Swiss Federal Institute of Sport Magglingen, 2532 Magglingen, Switzerland
| | - Michael Romann
- Department of Elite Sport, Swiss Federal Institute of Sport Magglingen, 2532 Magglingen, Switzerland
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7
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Möbius D, Fitzek A, Hammer N, Heinemann A, Ron A, Schädler J, Zwirner J, Ondruschka B. Ultrasound in legal medicine-a missed opportunity or simply too late? A narrative review of ultrasonic applications in forensic contexts. Int J Legal Med 2021; 135:2363-2383. [PMID: 34292383 PMCID: PMC8295453 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-021-02661-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Objectives Conventional autopsies remain the gold standard of postmortem healthcare quality assurance and help gathering extended knowledge on diseases. In answer to constantly declining autopsy rates non- or minimally invasive autopsy methods were introduced. Ultrasound is a well-established tool for imaging commonly used in clinical practice. This narrative review aims to summarize the current literature regarding the feasibility and validity of ultrasound in a forensic context. Material and methods A PubMed database search was carried out. Abstracts were scanned for pre-defined ex- and inclusion criteria, followed by a snowball search procedure applied to the primarily included articles. Results Forty-five publications met our inclusion criteria. The selected articles concern the feasibility of ultrasound in pre- or postmortem settings, forensic age estimation, and minimally invasive approaches. For imaging, ultrasound was deemed a reliable tool for the examination of epiphyses und superficial wounds, with limitations regarding internal organs and image quality due to postmortem changes. Ultrasound-guided minimally invasive approaches yielded higher success rates for adequate tissue sampling. Many investigations were carried out in low- and middle-income countries focusing on infectious diseases. Conclusion Ultrasound seems a promising but underutilized imaging tool in legal medicine to date. Promising approaches on its feasibility have been conducted. Especially for minimally invasive methods, ultrasound offered significant improvements on qualified biopsy sampling and thus appropriate diagnostics. Moreover, ultrasonic evaluation of epiphyses for age estimation offered valuable results. Nevertheless, further assessment of ultrasonic feasibility in forensic contexts is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dustin Möbius
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Antonia Fitzek
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Niels Hammer
- Institute of Macroscopic and Clinical Anatomy, University of Graz, Graz, Austria.,Department of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.,Fraunhofer IWU, Dresden, Germany
| | - Axel Heinemann
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Alexandra Ron
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Julia Schädler
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Johann Zwirner
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Benjamin Ondruschka
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
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Benito M, Muñoz A, Beltrán I, Labajo E, Perea B, Sánchez JA. Assessment of adulthood in the living Spanish population based on ossification of the medial clavicle epiphysis using ultrasound methods. Forensic Sci Int 2018; 284:161-166. [PMID: 29408725 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2018.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2017] [Revised: 12/20/2017] [Accepted: 01/08/2018] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
It is a fact that in recent years requests have greatly increased to obtain estimates of the legal age of undocumented individuals alleged to be minors who have been forced to enter different European Community countries for socioeconomic reasons or due to war. Spain is one of the countries most affected by this illegal immigration because of its proximity to North Africa. Therefore, it has become necessary to develop new standards which help provide a response to the demands of the justice administration. In recent years, the Superior Justice Court has rejected several pieces of expert evidence on the grounds that the age intervals therein were not sufficiently reliable and that the radiographic techniques used to determine age were invasive, potentially causing harm to the alleged minor. These sentences have caused interest in this field of work to increase within the scientific community. As a result, in order to improve age predictions and, above all, reduce minors' exposure to radiation, this study was created for completion on the Spanish population, using the ultrasound scan as a diagnostic technique. Used as a study sample were the ultrasound images of the proximal sternal epiphysis of the clavicle among 221 individuals of both sexes, of ages ranging from 5 to 30 years. All of the images were classified into 4 stages of fusion, in accordance with the development of metaphyseal closure proposed by Schulz et al. in 2008. The results show differences among the 4 proposed groups for each of the stages of fusion, with the results found in Stage II being especially important because, for both sexes, they would imply that the patient studied has reached an age of over 18 years, which is the legal age of adulthood in Spain, as established by the Spanish Constitution of 1978. Though further research is still recommended, these results, coupled with the use of ultrasound as a non-invasive diagnostic technique, could help solve some of the problems currently arising in justice courts.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Benito
- Legal Medicine School of Madrid. University Complutense of Madrid. Avenida Complutense s/n. Pabellón 7, Ciudad Universitaria, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Alexandra Muñoz
- Legal Medicine School of Madrid. University Complutense of Madrid. Avenida Complutense s/n. Pabellón 7, Ciudad Universitaria, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Isabel Beltrán
- Legal Medicine School of Madrid. University Complutense of Madrid. Avenida Complutense s/n. Pabellón 7, Ciudad Universitaria, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Elena Labajo
- Legal Medicine School of Madrid. University Complutense of Madrid. Avenida Complutense s/n. Pabellón 7, Ciudad Universitaria, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Bernardo Perea
- Legal Medicine School of Madrid. University Complutense of Madrid. Avenida Complutense s/n. Pabellón 7, Ciudad Universitaria, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - José Antonio Sánchez
- Legal Medicine School of Madrid. University Complutense of Madrid. Avenida Complutense s/n. Pabellón 7, Ciudad Universitaria, 28040 Madrid, Spain
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Uysal Ramadan S, Gurses MS, Inanir NT, Hacifazlioglu C, Fedakar R, Hizli S. Evaluation of the medial clavicular epiphysis according to the Schmeling and Kellinghaus method in living individuals: A retrospective CT study. Leg Med (Tokyo) 2017; 25:16-22. [DOI: 10.1016/j.legalmed.2016.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2016] [Revised: 12/27/2016] [Accepted: 12/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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10
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Evaluation of the ossification of the medial clavicle according to the Kellinghaus substage system in identifying the 18-year-old age limit in the estimation of forensic age-is it necessary? Int J Legal Med 2016; 131:585-592. [PMID: 27981359 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-016-1515-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2016] [Accepted: 12/02/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The evaluation of the ossification of the medial clavicular epiphysis being part of an assigned expert approach according to standard plays an important role within civil and criminal proceedings in assessing whether a person has reached her/his 19th or 22nd year of age. Evaluation of the medial clavicular epiphysis with thin-section CT is one of the methods recommended by the Study Group on Forensic Age Diagnostics of the German Association of Forensic Medicine. In this retrospective study, we evaluated the thin-section CT (section thickness of 0.6 and 1 mm) images of 254 patients (146 male, 108 female) with an age range of 13-28 years according to the Kellinghaus substage system. The mean values of female patients were observed to be about 10 months lower for stage 2a than the mean values of the male patients, about 13 months lower for stage 2b, and about 18 months lower for stage 2c. The earliest appearance for stage 3c was at 19 years in both sexes. Our data from this study were consistent with both our previous studies and the data of other studies. We think that stage 3c is important in determining whether a person has reached the age of 18 or not and, therefore, that the Kellinghaus substage system is a requirement in the assessment of forensic age.
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Sánchez MB, Codinha S, García AM, Sánchez JAS. Estimating legal age based on fusion of The proximal humeral epiphysis. Int J Legal Med 2016; 131:1133-1140. [DOI: 10.1007/s00414-016-1506-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2016] [Accepted: 11/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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12
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Maggio A, Flavel A, Hart R, Franklin D. Assessment of the accuracy of the Greulich and Pyle hand-wrist atlas for age estimation in a contemporary Australian population. AUST J FORENSIC SCI 2016. [DOI: 10.1080/00450618.2016.1251970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ariane Maggio
- Centre for Forensic Anthropology, School of Anatomy, Physiology and Human Biology, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
| | - Ambika Flavel
- Centre for Forensic Anthropology, School of Anatomy, Physiology and Human Biology, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
| | - Rob Hart
- Centre for Forensic Anthropology, School of Anatomy, Physiology and Human Biology, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
| | - Daniel Franklin
- Centre for Forensic Anthropology, School of Anatomy, Physiology and Human Biology, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
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13
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Morphologie der sonographisch vollständig fusionierten medialen Claviculaepiphyse. Rechtsmedizin (Berl) 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s00194-016-0127-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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14
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Gonsior M, Ramsthaler F, Birngruber C, Obert M, Verhoff MA. The completely fused medial clavicular epiphysis in high-frequency ultrasound scans as a diagnostic criterion for forensic age estimations in the living. Int J Legal Med 2016; 130:1603-1613. [PMID: 27544359 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-016-1435-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2015] [Accepted: 08/01/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The assessment of ossification of the medial clavicular epiphysis plays a decisive role in the forensic age estimation of living subjects. Primarily for reasons of minimizing the radiation exposure currently associated with such evaluations, non-ionizing methods would be an advance.This study pursued the question whether full union of the medial clavicular epiphysis, visualized by high-frequency sonography, is a reliable criterion for age-threshold determinations. The ossification stage of the medial clavicular epiphysis of 215 female and 195 male volunteers, aged between 14 and 26 years, was evaluated in bilateral sonograms. Stage 4, defined as complete fusion by Schulz et al. (Int J Legal Med 122:163-167, 2008), was observed on at least one body side in 48 of 334 individuals younger than 21 years (14.4 %) and in 32 of 264 individuals younger than 18 years (12.1 %).With the high-frequency ultrasound used in this study, even the smallest convexities of the medial clavicular ending can be visualized. This may have led to overestimation of the ossification stage. It is not clear whether any observed roundings in the sonograms should actually be interpreted in terms of stages 3 and 4 as defined by Schulz. Also, due to the low penetration depth of high-frequency ultrasound waves, epiphyseal plate residues and ossification centers may have remained undetected. Reliable differentiation of the stages 1-4 with high-frequency sonography is thus difficult, and the results suggest that this method is not a radiation-free alternative to computed tomography, the current gold standard for determining age thresholds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Gonsior
- Department of Legal Medicine, University of Gießen, Frankfurter Straße 58, D-35392, Gießen, Germany
| | - Frank Ramsthaler
- Department of Legal Medicine, University Hospital of Saarland, Building 42, D-66421, Homburg/Saar, Germany
| | - Christoph Birngruber
- Department of Legal Medicine, University of Gießen, Frankfurter Straße 58, D-35392, Gießen, Germany
| | - Martin Obert
- Department of Neuroradiology, University of Gießen, Klinikstraße 33, D-35385, Gießen, Germany
| | - Marcel A Verhoff
- Department of Legal Medicine, University Hospital of Frankfurt, Goethe University, Kennedyallee 104, D-60596, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
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Gurses MS, Inanir NT, Gokalp G, Fedakar R, Tobcu E, Ocakoglu G. Evaluation of age estimation in forensic medicine by examination of medial clavicular ossification from thin-slice computed tomography images. Int J Legal Med 2016; 130:1343-52. [DOI: 10.1007/s00414-016-1408-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2016] [Accepted: 06/17/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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17
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Maggio A, Flavel A, Hart R, Franklin D. Skeletal age estimation in a contemporary Western Australian population using the Tanner-Whitehouse method. Forensic Sci Int 2016; 263:e1-e8. [PMID: 27080619 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2016.03.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2016] [Revised: 03/11/2016] [Accepted: 03/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Various age estimation techniques have been utilised in Australia to evaluate the age of individuals who do not have documentation to determine legal majority/culpability. These age estimation techniques rely on the assessment of skeletal development as visualised in radiographs, CT scans, MRI or ultrasound modalities, and subsequent comparison to reference standards. These standards are not always population specific and are thus known to be less accurate when applied outside of the original reference sample, leading to potential ethical implications. Therefore, the present study aims to: (i) explore the variation in developmental trajectories between the established Tanner-Whitehouse (TW) age estimation standards and a Western Australian population; and (ii) develop specific hand-wrist age estimation standards for the latter population. The present study examines digital anterior-posterior hand-wrist radiographs of 360 individuals 0 to 24.9 years of age, equally represented by sex. Each radiograph was assessed using the RUS, Carpal and 20-bone methods of Tanner et al. The standard error of the estimate (SEE) was calculated for each method (range: ♀ SEE ±0.4-11.5 years; ♂ SEE ±0.9-10.1 years). The most accurate method was TW3 RUS for females and the TW2 Carpal system for males. The 50th centile skeletal maturity scores for each year age group were plotted against average chronological age to produce polynomial regression standards with a demonstrated accuracy of (♀ SEE ±0.09-3.46 years; ♂ SEE ±0.02-3.42 years) for females and males, respectively. The standards presented here can be used in future forensic investigations that require age estimation of hand-wrist bones in a Western Australian population, however, they are not appropriate for establishing age of majority (18 years), as skeletal maturity was attained on average earlier than 15 years of age in both sexes for all three systems examined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariane Maggio
- Centre for Forensic Anatomy and Biological Sciences, School of Anatomy, Physiology and Human Biology, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia.
| | - Ambika Flavel
- Centre for Forensic Anatomy and Biological Sciences, School of Anatomy, Physiology and Human Biology, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Rob Hart
- Centre for Forensic Anatomy and Biological Sciences, School of Anatomy, Physiology and Human Biology, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Daniel Franklin
- Centre for Forensic Anatomy and Biological Sciences, School of Anatomy, Physiology and Human Biology, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
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Ekizoglu O, Inci E, Erdil I, Hocaoglu E, Bilgili MG, Kazimoglu C, Reisoglu A, Can IO. Computed tomography evaluation of the iliac crest apophysis: age estimation in living individuals. Int J Legal Med 2016; 130:1101-1107. [PMID: 26914804 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-016-1345-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2015] [Accepted: 02/17/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Determination of the ossification properties of the iliac apophysis is important not only in the clinical evaluation of patients undergoing orthopedic surgery but also in age estimation studies for forensic purposes. The literature includes both anthropological and radiological (conventional radiography, ultrasonography, and magnetic resonance imaging modalities) investigations of the different staging systems used for these purposes. In this study, we assessed the utility of computed tomography (CT) of the iliac crest apophysis in estimating forensic age. CT scans of the iliac crest apophysis of 380 patients (187 females, 193 males, and 10-29 years of age) were evaluated according to the four-stage system. Further subclassification did not give data properly due to the reference length measurement of the iliac wing with CT. Thus, in our series, stage 2 was first seen in 12 years of age and stage 3 in those 14 years of age in both sexes and on both sides of the pelvis. Stage 4 was first seen in 17 years of both sexes but only on the right side; on the left side, it appeared in females 18 years of age and in males 17 years of age. Present data was found consistent with previous pelvic radiographic findings. First seen ages for stage 2 and 3 are 12 and 14 years respectively which presented valuable information for legally important age thresholds. However, disadvantages of CT, including high-dose radiation exposure to gonads, the difficulty of evaluating the iliac crest, and the age boundary of 17 years, could make this method infeasible, as compared with hand wrist and pelvic radiographic methods. CT of the iliac crest has probably a greater utility where preexisting CT scans of the pelvic region are available, and it may be considered as a supportive method for age-estimation purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oguzhan Ekizoglu
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Tepecik Training and Research Hospital, Güney mahallesi 1140/1 Yenisehir-Konak, Izmir, Turkey.
| | - Ercan Inci
- Department of Radiology, Bakirkoy Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Irem Erdil
- Department of Radiology, Bakirkoy Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Elif Hocaoglu
- Department of Radiology, Bakirkoy Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Mustafa Gokhan Bilgili
- Department of Orthopaedics, Bakirkoy Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Cemal Kazimoglu
- Department of Orthopaedics, Faculty of Medicine, Katip Celebi University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Ali Reisoglu
- Department of Orthopaedics, Tepecik Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Ismail Ozgur Can
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey
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Guo Y, Olze A, Ottow C, Schmidt S, Schulz R, Heindel W, Pfeiffer H, Vieth V, Schmeling A. Dental age estimation in living individuals using 3.0 T MRI of lower third molars. Int J Legal Med 2015; 129:1265-70. [PMID: 26232290 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-015-1238-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2015] [Accepted: 07/16/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
In order to increase the validity of age estimation in adolescents and young adults when there is no legitimation for X-ray examinations, it seems desirable to be able to assess the mineralization of third molars using X-ray-free imaging procedures. In the present study, the mineralization stages of lower third molars were determined prospectively in 269 male and 248 female individuals aged 12 to 24 years using 3.0 T MRI. The classification system of Demirjian et al. was used to determine the stages. This study presents the minima and maxima, means and standard deviations, median values, and lower and upper quartiles separately for both sexes, for the mineralization stages B-H. Statistically significant sex differences were observed for the mineralization stages C, E, F, and G, and a faster developmental rate was observed for males. It was concluded that magnetic resonance imaging is an X-ray-free alternative to orthopantomography when assessing mineralization of third molars.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yucheng Guo
- College of Medicine and Forensics, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, 76 West Yanta Road, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
- College of Stomatology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 98 Xiwu Road, Xi'an, 710004, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University Hospital Münster, Röntgenstraße 23, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Andreas Olze
- Institute of Legal Medicine, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Turmstraße 21, 10559, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christian Ottow
- Department of Clinical Radiology, University Hospital Münster, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Sven Schmidt
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University Hospital Münster, Röntgenstraße 23, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Ronald Schulz
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University Hospital Münster, Röntgenstraße 23, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Walter Heindel
- Department of Clinical Radiology, University Hospital Münster, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Heidi Pfeiffer
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University Hospital Münster, Röntgenstraße 23, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Volker Vieth
- Department of Clinical Radiology, Hospital Ibbenbüren, Große Straße 4, 49477, Ibbenbüren, Germany
| | - Andreas Schmeling
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University Hospital Münster, Röntgenstraße 23, 48149, Münster, Germany.
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Ekizoglu O, Hocaoglu E, Inci E, Can IO, Aksoy S, Sayin I. Estimation of forensic age using substages of ossification of the medial clavicle in living individuals. Int J Legal Med 2015; 129:1259-64. [DOI: 10.1007/s00414-015-1234-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2015] [Accepted: 07/06/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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21
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Ekizoglu O, Hocaoglu E, Can IO, Inci E, Aksoy S, Sayin I. Spheno-occipital synchondrosis fusion degree as a method to estimate age: a preliminary, magnetic resonance imaging study. AUST J FORENSIC SCI 2015. [DOI: 10.1080/00450618.2015.1042047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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22
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Ekizoglu O, Hocaoglu E, Can IO, Inci E, Aksoy S, Bilgili MG. Magnetic resonance imaging of distal tibia and calcaneus for forensic age estimation in living individuals. Int J Legal Med 2015; 129:825-31. [PMID: 25904076 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-015-1187-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2014] [Accepted: 04/07/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, methods by which to decrease radiation exposure during age estimation have gained importance and become a main research area in the forensic sciences. Imaging tools such as X-ray and computed tomography (CT) are accepted as the main diagnostic methods for evaluation of the epiphysis in living individuals; however, radiation exposure and superimposition are the main disadvantages of these techniques. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging provides an advantage in terms of preventing radiation exposure. In this study, we performed an MR analysis of the degree of fusion of the distal tibia and calcaneal epiphysis and investigated the utility of this technique in the Turkish population. Using the three-stage method described by Saint-Martin et al., we retrospectively evaluated 167 MR images (97 males, 70 females; mean age, 17.7 ± 4.8 years for males and 17.6 ± 4.9 years for females; age range of all subjects, 8-25 years). Intraobserver and interobserver evaluation showed good repeatability and consistency of this method. Stages 2 and 3 ossification of the distal tibial epiphysis first occurred at age 14 and 15 years in males and 12 and 14 years in females, respectively. Stages 2 and 3 ossification of the calcaneal epiphysis first occurred at age 14 and 16 years in males and 10 and 12 years in females, respectively. When performed alone, MR analysis of the distal tibial and calcaneal epiphysis offers limited information for forensic age estimation. However, we suggest that MR analysis can be used as a supportive method when it is necessary to avoid repeated radiation exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oguzhan Ekizoglu
- Tepecik Training and Research Hospital, Yenisehir, Izmir, Turkey,
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23
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Dedouit F, Saint-Martin P, Mokrane FZ, Savall F, Rousseau H, Crubézy E, Rougé D, Telmon N. Virtual anthropology: useful radiological tools for age assessment in clinical forensic medicine and thanatology. Radiol Med 2015; 120:874-86. [PMID: 25735613 DOI: 10.1007/s11547-015-0525-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2014] [Accepted: 02/17/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Virtual anthropology consists of the introduction of modern slice imaging to biological and forensic anthropology. Thanks to this non-invasive scientific revolution, some classifications and staging systems, first based on dry bone analysis, can be applied to cadavers with no need for specific preparation, as well as to living persons. Estimation of bone and dental age is one of the possibilities offered by radiology. Biological age can be estimated in clinical forensic medicine as well as in living persons. Virtual anthropology may also help the forensic pathologist to estimate a deceased person's age at death, which together with sex, geographical origin and stature, is one of the important features determining a biological profile used in reconstructive identification. For this forensic purpose, the radiological tools used are multislice computed tomography and, more recently, X-ray free imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound investigations. We present and discuss the value of these investigations for age estimation in anthropology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabrice Dedouit
- Service de Médecine Légale, Hôpital de Rangueil, CHU Toulouse-Rangueil, 1 avenue du Professeur Jean Poulhès, TSA 50032, 31059, Toulouse Cedex 9, France,
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Pattamapaspong N, Madla C, Mekjaidee K, Namwongprom S. Age estimation of a Thai population based on maturation of the medial clavicular epiphysis using computed tomography. Forensic Sci Int 2015; 246:123.e1-5. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2014.10.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2014] [Revised: 09/03/2014] [Accepted: 10/30/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Forensic age estimation by the Schmeling method: computed tomography analysis of the medial clavicular epiphysis. Int J Legal Med 2014; 129:203-10. [PMID: 25408292 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-014-1121-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2014] [Accepted: 11/11/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
The variability of anthropometric measures, such as the degree of ossification, among societies should be taken into account when estimating age. The degree of ossification of the medial clavicle can be determined with thin-section computed tomography (CT), which is one of the methods recommended by the Study Group on Forensic Age Diagnostics of the German Association of Forensic Medicine. The purpose of this retrospective study was to investigate the applicability of thin-section CT analysis of the degree of ossification of the medial clavicle in a Turkish population. We evaluated the CT images (1-mm slice thickness) of 503 patients (362 male, 141 female; age, 10-35 years) using the Schmeling five-stage method. The Spearman's correlation analysis revealed a positive correlation between age and ossification stage in both male and female patients (total group: rho = 0.838, p < 0.001; male: rho = 0.831, p < 0.001; female: rho = 0.856, p < 0.001). The linear regression analysis results indicated that the ossification stage of the medial clavicle is a good predictor when estimating age (r (2) = 0.735 for all patients, 0.734 for male patients, 0.741 for female patients). Sex differences in ossification stages were observed only for stage 1 and 4 ossification. We believe that future research could expand the database on this topic and contribute to improvements in this measurement method.
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26
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Schulz R, Schmidt S, Pfeiffer H, Schmeling A. Sonographische Untersuchungen verschiedener Skelettregionen. Rechtsmedizin (Berl) 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s00194-014-0988-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Milenkovic P, Djuric M, Milovanovic P, Djukic K, Zivkovic V, Nikolic S. The role of CT analyses of the sternal end of the clavicle and the first costal cartilage in age estimation. Int J Legal Med 2014; 128:825-39. [DOI: 10.1007/s00414-014-1026-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2013] [Accepted: 05/20/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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