Evaluation of an automatic method for forensic age estimation by magnetic resonance imaging of the distal tibial epiphysis--a preliminary study focusing on the 18-year threshold.

Details

Serval ID
serval:BIB_2C4D14E259F7
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Title
Evaluation of an automatic method for forensic age estimation by magnetic resonance imaging of the distal tibial epiphysis--a preliminary study focusing on the 18-year threshold.
Journal
International Journal of Legal Medicine
Author(s)
Saint-Martin P., Rérolle C., Dedouit F., Rousseau H., Rougé D., Telmon N.
ISSN
1437-1596 (Electronic)
ISSN-L
0937-9827
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2014
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
128
Number
4
Pages
675-683
Language
english
Notes
Publication types: Evaluation Studies ; Journal ArticlePublication Status: ppublish
Abstract
The contribution of magnetic resonance imaging to forensic age estimation of living individuals is a subject of ongoing research. Several studies have focused on the wrist, clavicle, knee, and foot, and shown interesting results regarding the 18-year threshold. Authors have developed various staging systems for epiphyseal growth plate maturation. However, the procedure is observer-dependent and requires experience and a certain time-learning process. To reduce these pitfalls, we have developed an automatic method based on the analysis of variations of gray levels within the epiphyseal-metaphyseal junction. This method was tested on 160 MRI scans of the distal tibial epiphysis in a sample of individuals aged from 8 to 25 years old, after intensity non-uniformity correction of all images. Results showed that in our sample, 97.4 % of males and 93.9 % of females aged 18 years or more would be correctly classified using this method. To our knowledge, automatic methods for MRI analysis have not been used in the field of age estimation yet. Further studies should be performed to assess the validity of this procedure.
Keywords
Adolescent, Adult, Age Determination by Skeleton/methods, Automation, Child, Epiphyses/growth & development, Female, Humans, Imaging, Three-Dimensional, Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods, Male, Predictive Value of Tests, Principal Component Analysis, Sensitivity and Specificity, Tibia/growth & development, Young Adult
Pubmed
Web of science
Create date
12/01/2016 11:21
Last modification date
20/08/2019 13:11
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