Abstract
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.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Laura Janes. Criminal liability of minors and severity of penalties: European trends and developments. Howard League for Penal Reform (England and Wales), 2008. http://www.europeanrights.eu/public/commenti/LauraJanes_en.pdf Accessed: 21 March 2014
Ritz-Timme S, Cattaneo C, Waite Collins ER, Schutz HW, Kaatsch HJ, Borrman HI (2000) Age estimation: the state of the art in relation to the specific demands of forensic practise. Int J Legal Med 113:129–136. doi:10.1007/s004140050283
Schmeling A, Garamendi PM, Prieto JL, Landa MI (2011) Forensic age estimation in unaccompanied minors and young living adults. In: Duarte NV (ed) Forensic medicine—from old problems to new challenges. InTech, Rijeka, pp 77–120, http://www.intechopen.com/books/howtoreference/forensic-medicine-from-old-problems-to-new-challenges/forensic-age-estimation-in-unaccompanied-minors-and-young-living-adults. Accessed: 30 October 2014
Schmeling A, Grundmann C, Fuhrmann A, Kaatsch HJ, Knell B, Ramsthaler F, Reisinger W, Riepert T, Ritz-Timme S, Rösing FW, Rötzscher K, Geserick G (2008) Criteria for age estimation in living individuals. Int J Legal Med 122(6):457–460. doi:10.1007/s00414-008-0254-2
Quirmbach F, Ramsthaler F, Verhoff MA (2009) Evaluation of the ossification of the medial clavicular epiphysis with a digital ultrasonic system to determine the age threshold of 21 years. Int J Legal Med 123:241–245. doi:10.1007/s00414-009-0335-x
Schmidt S, Schmeling A, Zwiesigk P, Pfeiffer H, Schulz R (2011) Sonographic evaluation of apophyseal ossification of the iliac crest in forensic age diagnostics in living individuals. Int J Legal Med 125:271–276. doi:10.1007/s00414-011-0554-9
Schmidt S, Schiborr M, Pfeiffer H, Schmeling A, Schulz R (2013) Age dependence of epiphyseal ossification of the distal radius in ultrasound diagnostics. Int J Legal Med 127:831–838. doi:10.1007/s00414-013-0871-2
Gonsior M, Ramsthaler F, Gehl A, Verhoff MA (2013) Morphology as a cause for different classification of the ossification stage of the medial clavicular epiphysis by ultrasound, computed tomography, and macroscopy. Int J Legal Med 127:1013–1021. doi:10.1007/s00414-013-0889-5
Schmidt S, Mühler M, Schmeling A, Reisinger W, Schulz R (2007) Magnetic resonance imaging of the clavicular ossification. Int J Legal Med 121:321–324. doi:10.1007/s00414-007-0160-z
Tangmose S, Jensen KE, Villa C, Lynnerup N (2014) Forensic age estimation from the clavicle using 1.0 T MRI—preliminary results. Forensic Sci Int 234:7–12. doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2013.10.027
Hillewig E, Degroote J, Van der Paelt T, Visscher A, Vandemaele P, Lutin B, D’Hooghe L, Vandriessche V, Piette M, Verstraete K (2013) Magnetic resonance imaging of the sternal extremity of the clavicle in forensic age estimation: towards more sound age estimates. Int J Legal Med 127(3):677–689. doi:10.1007/s00414-012-0798-z
Vieth V, Schulz R, Brinkmeier P, Dvorak J, Schmeling A (2014) Age estimation in U-20 football players using 3.0 tesla MRI of the clavicle. Forensic Sci Int 241:118–122. doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2014.05.008
Saint-Martin P, Rérolle C, Dedouit F, Bouilleau L, Rousseau H, Rougé D, Telmon N (2013) Age estimation by magnetic resonance imaging of the distal tibial epiphysis and the calcaneum. Int J Legal Med 127(5):1023–1030. doi:10.1007/s00414-013-0844-5
Saint-Martin P, Rérolle C, Dedouit F, Rousseau H, Rougé D, Telmon N (2014) 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. Int J Legal Med 128(4):675–683. doi:10.1007/s00414-014-0987-z
Krämer JA, Schmidt S, Jürgens KU, Lentschig M, Schmeling A, Vieth V (2014) The use of magnetic resonance imaging to examine ossification of the proximal tibial epiphysis for forensic age estimation in living individuals. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 10(3):306–313. doi:10.1007/s12024-014-9559-2
Wittschieber D, Vieth V, Timme M, Dvorak J, Schmeling A (2014) Magnetic resonance imaging of the iliac crest: age estimation in under-20 soccer players. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 10(2):198–202. doi:10.1007/s12024-014-9548-5
Dvorak J, George J, Junge A, Hodler J (2007) Application of MRI of the wrist for age determination in international U-17 soccer competitions. Br J Sports Med 41(8):497–500. doi:10.1136/bjsm.2006.033431
Krämer JA, Schmidt S, Jürgens KU, Lentschig M, Schmeling A, Vieth V (2014) Forensic age estimation in living individuals using 3.0 T MRI of the distal femur. Int J Legal Med 128(3):509–514. doi:10.1007/s00414-014-0967-3
Dedouit F, Auriol J, Rousseau H, Rougé D, Crubézy E, Telmon N (2012) Age assessment by magnetic resonance imaging of the knee: a preliminary study. Forensic Sci Int 217:e1–e7. doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2011.11.013
Saint-Martin P, Rérolle C, Pucheux J, Dedouit F, Telmon N (2014) Contribution of distal femur MRI to the determination of the 18-year limit in forensic age estimation. Int J Legal Med. doi:10.1007/s00414-014-1020-2
Hoerr NL, Pyle SI, Francis CC (1962) Radiographic atlas of skeletal development of the foot and ankle: a standard of reference. Thomas, Springfield, IL
Crowder C, Austin D (2005) Age ranges of epiphyseal fusion in the distal tibia and fibula of contemporary males and females. J Forensic Sci 50:1001–1007. doi:10.1520/JFS2004542
Flecker H (1932) Roentgenographic observations of the times of appearance of epiphyses and their fusion with the diaphyses. J Anat 67(Pt 1):118–164
Ogden JA, McCarthy SM (1983) Radiology of postnatal skeletal development VIII. Distal tibia and fibula. Skelet Radiol 10(4):209–220. doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2013.07.029
Banerjee KK, Agarwal BB (1998) Estimation of age from epiphyseal union at the wrist and ankle joints in the capital city of India. Forensic Sci Int 98:31–39. doi:10.1016/S0379-0738(98)00134-0
Scheuer L, Black SM (2000) Developmental juvenile osteology. Elsevier Academic Press, Amsterdam
Altman DG (1991) Practical statistics for medical research. Chapman& Hall, New York
McKern TW, Stewart TD (1957) Skeletal age changes in young American males analyzed from the standpoint of age determination. Technical Report EP-45. Environmental Protection Research Division, HQ=Quartermaster Research and Development Command, United States Army, Natick, MA
Patond S, Tirpude B, Murkey P, Wankhade P, Nagrale N, Surwade V (2012) Age determination from epiphyseal union of bones at ankle joint in girls of central India. J Forensic Med Sci Law 21(2):11–17
Cardoso HF (2008) Epiphyseal union at the innominate and lower limb in a modern Portuguese skeletal sample, and age estimation in adolescent and young adult male and female skeletons. Am J Phys Anthropol 135:161–170. doi:10.1002/ajpa.20717
Coqueugniot H, Weaver TD (2007) Brief communication: infracranial maturation in the skeletal collection from Coimbra, Portugal: new aging standards for epiphyseal union. Am J Phys Anthropol 134:424–437. doi:10.1002/ajpa.20683
Pradeep B, Chowdhary DS, Tirpude BH, Bharat S, Vandana W, Aaditya T (2010) Age determination in girls of Jodhpur region by epiphyseal union of bones at ankle joint. J Indian Acad Forensic Med 32(1):42–45
United Nations Development Programme, Human Development Reports 2014. http://www.hdr.undp.org/en/data. Accessed: 15 January 2014.
Schmeling A, Reisinger W, Loreck D, Vendura K, Markus W, Geserick G (2000) Effects of ethnicity on skeletal maturation: consequences for forensic age estimations. Int J Leg Med 113:253–258. doi:10.1007/s004149900102
Schmeling A, Olze A, Reisinger W, Geserick G (2005) Forensic age estimation and ethnicity. Leg Med 7:134–137. doi:10.1016/j.legalmed.2004.07.004
Wittschieber D, Schulz R, Vieth V, Küppers M, Bajanowski T, Ramsthaler F, Püschel K, Pfeiffer H, Schmidt S, Schmeling A (2014) Influence of the examiner’s qualification and sources of error during stage determination of the medial clavicular epiphysis by means of computed tomography. Int J Legal Med 128(1):183–191. doi:10.1007/s00414-013-0932-6
Taybi H, Lachman RS (1990) Radiology of syndromes, metabolic disorders and skeletal dysplasias, 3rd edn. Year Book Medical Publishers, Chicago
Tanner JM (1966) The secular trend towards earlier maturation. T Soc Geneesk 44:524–538
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ekizoglu, O., Hocaoglu, E., Can, I.O. et al. Magnetic resonance imaging of distal tibia and calcaneus for forensic age estimation in living individuals. Int J Legal Med 129, 825–831 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-015-1187-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-015-1187-1