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Iscan’s staging method for age estimation from fourth ribs has been proved to be a potentially useful tool for various populations. However, due to interracial variations, it is necessary to calibrate its’ accuracy in reference to a population of Thai males before it can be applied. This study aimed to evaluate the validity of phasing analyses of sternal ends of fourth ribs developed by Iscan, et al., on a Thai male population. The Iscan’s method was applied to 50 Thai males aged 18 years and above. Staging of sternal ends of the ribs was analyzed based on 3 morphological features: pit depth, pit shape, and rim and wall configurations – designated as components 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, and cross-tabulation with Kendall’s Tau-c correlation. It was found that sternal end stages of fourth ribs in each component, inclusive of composite scores, are positively correlated to the age of the individual (P < 0.001). However, Iscan’s result - which was derived from a population of white males - delivers age-underestimation in a Thai population. Hence, we developed a modified age prediction reference table for application to Thai males. Applying cross-tabulation analysis, stages 1 and 2 were found only in individuals who were less than 40 years old, and stages 4 and 5 were found only in the 40 years and above age-group except for 1 case. Keywords: Age estimation, Fourth rib, Iscan’s method, Thai male

Within spinal column, the lumbar vertebrae are the most durable and usually left behind in severely burnt body. European studies have reported that these vertebrae are useful for age estimation. However, it is widely acknowledged that different ancestry necessitates different methods and includes a range of variables, therefore a study specific to Thai population is needed for accuracy in the identification of Thai individuals. To investigate the correlation between lumbar vertebrae, and age of the individual, L1-L5 drilled out from 75 Thai cadavers. After undergoing histological processing each slide was photographed. The images were processed using an image processing technique to calculate the percentage of trabecular bone area over total area (%TBA/TA). Using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) program, %TBA/TA of L1-L5 was calculated. The %TBA/TA of L1-L5 showed a negative correlation to age in both male and female groups. The %TBA/TA of L2 in the male group decreased most significantly with increase in age (r=-0.775) whereas in the female group, L3 showed the strongest negative correlation with age (r=-0.75. In the conclusion, it was found that trabecular bone of L2 showed the most significant correlation to increase in age in males whereas L3 showed the strongest correlation in females. Keywords: Age, Image segmentation, Lumbar, Thai population, Trabecular bone