Evaluation of distal tibial epiphysis and calcaneal epiphysis according to the Vieth method in 3.0 T magnetic resonance images: a pilot study

Age-related patterns in mandibular third molar eruption: presenting new forensic age assessment reference data from a Chinese population

Valid reference data are essential for reliable forensic age assessment procedures in the living, a fact that extends to the trait of mandibular third molar eruption in dental panoramic radiographs (PAN). The objective of this study was to acquire valid reference data for a northern Chinese population. The study was guided by the criteria for reference studies in age assessment.To this end, a study population from China comprising 917 panoramic radiographs obtained from 430 females and 487 males aged between 15.00 and 25.99 years was analysed. Of the 917 PANs, a total of 1230 mandibular third molars were evaluated.The PANs, retrospectively evaluated, were performed for medical indication during the period from 2016 to 2021. The assessment of mandibular third molars was conducted using the staging scale presented by Olze et al. in 2012. Two independent examiners, trained in assessing PANs for forensic age estimation, evaluated the images. In instances where the two examiners diverged in their assessments these were subsequently deliberated, and a consensus stage was assigned.The mean age increased with higher stages for both teeth and both sexes. The minimum age recorded for stage D, indicating complete tooth eruption, was 15.6 years in females and 16.1 years in males. Consequently, the completion of mandibular third molar eruption was observed in both sexes well before reaching the age of 18. In light of our results, it is evident that relying solely on the assessment of mandibular third molar eruption may not be sufficient for accurately determining the age of majority. Contrary to previous literature, this finding of a completed eruption of the mandibular third molars in northern Chinese individuals is only suitable for detecting the completion of the 16th year of life in males according to our results. However, as the results are inconsistent compared to other studies in the literature, the trait should not be used as the only decisive marker to prove this age threshold in males from northern China.

Forensic Age Determination Using MRI Scans of the Ankle: Applying Two Classifications to Assess Ossification

In forensic age determination, e.g. for legal proceedings, exceeded age limits may be relevant. To investigate age-related differences in skeletal development, the recommendations of the Study Group on Forensic Age Diagnostics (AGFAD) rely on imaging techniques using ionizing radiation (including orthopantomograms and radiographs of the hand). Vieth et al. and Ottow et al. have proposed MRI classifications for epi-/diaphyseal fusion of the knee joint to determine different age limits. The aim of the present study was to verify whether these two classifications could also be applied to MRI of the ankle.MRI images of the ankle from 333 patients (160 female, 173 male) ranging in age from 10 to 28 years were retrospectively analyzed. T1-weighted turbo spin-echo (TSE) sequences and T2-weighted fat-suppressed sequences were analyzed for the two classifications. The different ossification stages of the two classifications were determined and the corresponding chronological ages were assigned. In addition, gender-specific differences were analyzed. Intra- and inter-observer variability was determined using Cohen's kappa.With the classification of Ottow et al., the completion of the 14th year of life could be determined in both sexes. With the classification of Vieth et al, the completion of the 14th year of life could be determined in both sexes and the 18th year of life in male patients. Intra-observer and inter-observer variability was very good and good, respectively (κ > 0.87 and κ > 0.72).In the present study, it was also possible to use both classifications for MRI of the ankle joint. The method offers the potential of an alternative or at least supplementary radiation-free assessment criterion in forensic age estimation. · MRI scans of the ankle can be used for forensic age determination.. · Classifications developed for the knee joint can also be used on the ankle.. · The applied classifications based on Vieth et al. and Ottow et al. can be used as an alternative or, at the least, an additional method when determining legally relevant age limits.. · Wernsing MF, Malokaj V, Kunz SN et al. Forensic Age Determination Using MRI Scans of the Ankle: Applying Two Classifications to Assess Ossification. Fortschr Röntgenstr 2024; DOI 10.1055/a-2379-8785.

Bone age assessment based on different MRI modalities of the proximal humerus epiphysis: the comparisons of T1WI, T2WI, and PDWI

Bone age assessment (BAA) is crucial in various fields, including legal proceedings, athletic competitions, and clinical medicine. However, the use of X-ray methods for age estimation without medical indication is subject to ethical debate, especially in forensic and athletic fields. The application of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with non-ionizing radiation can overcome this limitation in BAA. This study aimed to compare the application value of several MRI modalities of proximal humeral in BAA. A total of 468 patients with shoulder MRIs were retrospectively collected from a Chinese Han population aged 12-30 years (259 males and 209 females) for training and testing, including T1 weighted MRI (T1WI), T2 weighted MRI (T2WI), and Proton density weighted MRI (PDWI). Optimal regression models were established for age estimation, yielding mean absolute error (MAE) values below 2.0 years. The MAE values of T1WI were the lowest, with 1.700 years in males and 1.798 years in females. The area under the curve (AUC) and accuracy values of different MRI modalities of 16-year and 18-year thresholds were all around 0.9. For the 18-year threshold, T1WI outperformed T2WI and PDWI. In conclusion, the three MRI modalities of the proximal humerus can serve as reliable indicators for age assessment, while the T1WI performed better in age assessment and classification.

Third molar eruption in dental panoramic radiographs as a feature for forensic age assessment - new reference data from a German population

Forensic age assessment in the living can provide legal certainty when an individual's chronological age is unknown or when age-related information is questionable. An established method involves assessing the eruption of mandibular third molars through dental panoramic radiographs (PAN). In age assessment procedures, the respective findings are compared to reference data. The objective of this study was to generate new reference data in line with the required standards for mandibular third molar eruption within a German population. For this purpose, 605 PANs from 302 females and 303 males aged 15.04 to 25.99 years were examined. The PANs were acquired between 2013 and 2020, and the development of the mandibular third molars was rated independently by two experienced examiners using the Olze et al. staging scale from 2012. In case of disagreement in the assigned ratings, a consensus was reached through arbitration. While the mean, median and minimum ages were observed to increase with each stage of mandibular third molar eruption according to the Olze method, there was considerable overlap in the distribution of age between the stages. The minimum age for stage D, which corresponds to complete tooth eruption, was 16.1 years for females and 17.1 years for males. Thus, the completion of mandibular third molar eruption was found in both sexes before reaching the age of 18. In all individuals who had at least one tooth with completed eruption and who were younger than 17.4 years of age (n = 10), mineralization of the teeth in question was not complete. Based on our findings, the feature of assessing mandibular third molar eruption in PAN cannot be relied upon for determining age of majority.