Using Thin-Slice Multidetector Computed Tomography in Forensic Age Estimation Based on the Ossification Status of the Medial Clavicular Epiphysis among Egyptian Subjects
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- Category: Vol. 81, March 2013
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Using Thin-Slice Multidetector Computed Tomography in Forensic Age Estimation Based on the Ossification Status of the Medial Clavicular Epiphysis among Egyptian Subjects, KHALED M. EL-GERBY, AZZA S. MOHAMMED and MIE S. GOMAA
Abstract
Today there is an increasing demand for age estimations in living individuals. Computed tomography (CT) is rapidly becoming the gold standard for analysis of skeletal and dental development in both clinical practice and increasingly, in forensic practice. This imaging modality provides clear un-ambiguous images of the areas of interest with no distortion and without overlapping of other anatomical structures. The aim of the study was to clarify how strong the chronological age relates to clavicular ossification and to determine the reliability of the detection by means of thin-slice computed tomography. This study group consisted of 66 male and 64 female subjects, aged between 10 and 36 years. From each age group a Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) studies were obtained using a 16-row MDCT system. In male individuals, stage 2 was first noted at age 14, in female individuals at age 13. Stage 3 was first achieved by male individuals at age 17, by female individuals at age 16. The occurrence of stage 4 was first found in both sexes at the age of 21. In either sex, the earliest observation of stage 5 was at age 26. Further research focusing on a multi-factorial approach to age estimation including both medial clavicle and the 3rd molar tooth is recommended.