Sonographic evaluation of apophyseal ossification of the iliac crest in forensic age diagnostics in living individuals

Schmidt, Sven; Schmeling, Andreas; Zwiesigk, Per; Pfeiffer, Heidi; Schulz, Ronald

doi:10.1007/s00414-011-0554-9

Cited by 70 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Indeed, the US method is accurate and X-ray free, but it remains operator dependent. Also, it only allows a relatively superficial evaluation of bones due to limited penetration depth of ultrasonic waves [13,45,46]. MRI is a powerful tool, especially for identifying and studying growth plates.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bone age estimation based on multislice computed tomography study of the scapula

et al. 2016

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Progress in medical imaging has opened new areas of research in forensic anthropology, especially in the context of the study of bone age assessment. The study of bone age has become a useful tool for age estimation at death or age of young adult migrants in an anthropological context. We retrospectively evaluated multislice computed tomography (MSCT) explorations focused on scapulae of 232 individuals (123 males; 109 females) aged between 8 and 30 years old. Computed tomography (CT) scans were viewed in axial and multiplanar reconstructed images using OsiriX 5.9 (64 bit)®. The ossification centers of the scapula studied were as follows: acromial, sub-coracoid, glenoid, coracoid, coracoid apex, and inferior angle epiphyses. Fusion status was scored based on a five-stage system (stage 1: no ossification, stage 2: visualization of an ossification center, stage 3: partial ossification, stage 4: full ossification associated to an epiphyseal scar, and stage 5: full ossification without epiphyseal scar). Intra-observer variability was excellent, and inter-observer variability was good, demonstrating the reliability of this MSCT staging system. The fusion of scapular ossification centers was statistically associated with age (p < 0.001) but not with sex (p > 0.05). In conclusion, MSCT of the scapula is an efficient method for age assessment, which is complementary to preexisting methods particularly for specifying the 18-year threshold. Further studies with larger groups are needed to support our results.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bone age estimation based on multislice computed tomography study of the scapula

et al. 2016

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“…--Iliac crest examination yielded similar results with ultrasound and with plain X-rays, and was determined as a good method for the 14-and 16-year-old thresholds [22]. With regard to the clavicle, some difficulties may arise in distinguishing between partial and complete fusion, especially with overweight individuals [23].…”

Section: Ultrasonographymentioning

confidence: 99%

Virtual anthropology: useful radiological tools for age assessment in clinical forensic medicine and thanatology

et al. 2015

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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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“…Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging are also commonly used methods, and their cost has decreased due to technological development. Additionally, technical advances have allowed for the development of high-resolution ultrasonography, which involves no radiation exposure and is costeffective [5][6][7][8]. The guidelines of the Study Group on Forensic Age Diagnostics propose physical examination, X-ray examination of the left hand, and dental examination for forensic age estimation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Magnetic resonance imaging of distal tibia and calcaneus for forensic age estimation in living individuals

et al. 2015

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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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Sonographic evaluation of apophyseal ossification of the iliac crest in forensic age diagnostics in living individuals

Cited by 70 publications

References 27 publications

Bone age estimation based on multislice computed tomography study of the scapula

Bone age estimation based on multislice computed tomography study of the scapula

Virtual anthropology: useful radiological tools for age assessment in clinical forensic medicine and thanatology

Magnetic resonance imaging of distal tibia and calcaneus for forensic age estimation in living individuals

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