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Tang XE, Lu T, Zhou YC, Zhan MJ, Chen W, Peng Z, Liu JH, Gui YF, Deng ZH, Fan F. Adult age estimation from the sternum using maximum intensity projection images of CT and data mining in a Chinese population. Int J Legal Med 2024; 138:961-970. [PMID: 38240839 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-024-03161-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
This study aimed to explore and develop data mining models for adult age estimation based on CT reconstruction images from the sternum. Maximum intensity projection (MIP) images of chest CT were retrospectively collected from a modern Chinese population, and data from 2700 patients (1349 males and 1351 females) aged 20 to 70 years were obtained. A staging technique within four indicators was applied. Several data mining models were established, and mean absolute error (MAE) was the primary comparison parameter. The intraobserver and interobserver agreement levels were good. Within internal validation, the optimal data mining model obtained the lowest MAE of 9.08 in males and 10.41 in females. For the external validation (N = 200), MAEs were 7.09 in males and 7.15 in females. In conclusion, the accuracy of our model for adult age estimation was among similar studies. MIP images of the sternum could be a potential age indicator. However, it should be combined with other indicators since the accuracy level is still unsatisfactory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xian-E Tang
- West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Ting Lu
- West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu-Chi Zhou
- West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Meng-Jun Zhan
- West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Wang Chen
- West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhao Peng
- Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun-Hong Liu
- West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu-Fan Gui
- West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhen-Hua Deng
- West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China.
| | - Fei Fan
- West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China.
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Kuatrakul A, Vachirawongsakorn V. Forensic age-at-death estimation using the sternal junction in Thai adults: an autopsy study. Anat Cell Biol 2023; 56:367-373. [PMID: 37190771 PMCID: PMC10520865 DOI: 10.5115/acb.23.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
One of the main parameters in the analysis of skeletal remains in forensic anthropological cases is the estimation of age. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between age and the fusion status of the sternal junction. This crosssectional study was carried out on 184 sterna from 94 females and 90 males obtained from known-age cadavers in the Thai population. By direct observation, the fusion stage of the manubrio-sternal and sterno-xiphoidal junctions was studied and divided into unfused and fused joints. The results showed that a large proportion of the sterna remain unfused throughout adulthood, with fusion observed in both young and old cadavers. Insignificant differences in the rate of fusion, the sexes and ages were observed. None of the sterna under 30 years of age in females and 32 years of age in males showed fusion of the manubrio-sternal and sterno-xiphoidal junctions. Based on the variability of the sternal fusions observed in this study, we highlighted a very limited role of the sternum alone in the estimation of age in the Thai population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adisuan Kuatrakul
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, Thailand
| | - Vijarn Vachirawongsakorn
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
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Cartilage Tissue in Forensic Science—State of the Art and Future Research Directions. Processes (Basel) 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/pr10112456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Cartilage tissue performs many functions in the human body. The diseases and injuries affecting it are prevalent due to its slow regeneration rate. However, cartilage tissue is exceptionally important for its auspicious use in forensic medicine due to its slow postmortem degradation rate. The presented review summarizes the latest research on cartilage tissues and their current and potential applications in forensic science. It also describes the most important studies on using cartilage and its microscopic and macroscopic analyses to estimate the deceased age and determine postmortem interval (PMI) values and the crime weapon. Additionally, the review describes attempts to isolate DNA from cartilage tissue for individual identification. The review also mentions recent, less abundant studies on the cartilage in forensic toxicology and genetics. It points out further directions and prospects for research development on cartilage tissue and its promising use in forensic medicine
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