Applicability of T1-weighted MRI in the assessment of forensic age based on the epiphyseal closure of the humeral head
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LEGAL MEDICINE, cilt.133, sa.1, ss.241-248, 2019 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 133 Sayı: 1
- Basım Tarihi: 2019
- Doi Numarası: 10.1007/s00414-018-1868-7
- Dergi Adı: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LEGAL MEDICINE
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.241-248
- Anahtar Kelimeler: Age estimation, Proximal humeral epiphysis, Magnetic resonance imaging
- Açık Arşiv Koleksiyonu: AVESİS Açık Erişim Koleksiyonu
- Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
This work investigates the value of magnetic resonance imaging analysis of proximal epiphyseal fusion in research examining the growth and development of the humerus and its potential utility in establishing forensic age estimation. In this study, 428 proximal humeral epiphyses (patient age, 12-30years) were evaluated with T1-weighted turbo spin echo (T1 TSE) sequences in coronal oblique orientation on shoulder MRI images. A scoring system was created following a combination of the Schmeling and Kellinghaus methods. Spearman's rank correlation analysis revealed a significant positive relationship between age and ossification stage of the proximal humeral epiphysis (all subjects: rho=0.664, p<0.001; males: 0.631, p<0.001; females: rho=0.651, p<0.001). The intra- and inter-observer reliability assessed using Cohen's kappa statistic was =0.898 and =0.828, respectively. The earliest age of epiphysis closure was 17years for females and 18years for males. MRI of the proximal humeral epiphysis can be considered advantageous for forensic age estimation of living individuals in a variety of situations, ranging from monitoring public health to estimating the age of illegal immigrants/asylum seekers, minors engaged in criminal activities, and illegal participants in competitive sports, without the danger of radiation exposure.