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Fetal age estimation using MSCT scans of the mandible

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine a documented fetal collection, to carry out morphometric analysis of femoral length and of the mandible, and to develop diagnostic standards for estimating fetal age at death based on multislice computed tomography (MSCT) reconstructions. The sample was composed of 81 fetuses, whose ages were recorded in weeks of amenorrhea (WA) between 20 to 40 WA. The measurements made were femoral length (FL) and six distances and four angles of the mandible. Femoral length was measured in 81 fetuses (39 females and 42 males). Morphometric study of the mandible was carried out in 65 fetuses (31 females and 34 males), as the mandible was missing in 16 fetuses. R software was used for statistical analyses. Coefficient correlation (R2) and linear regression formulas were calculated. Intra-observer and inter-observer variabilities were very satisfactory (intra-class correlation coefficient ≥0.95). Our method appears to be reliable and reproducible. Femoral length was most strongly correlated with age (R2 = 0.9). The measurement of six distances and four mandible angles from four landmark positions showed a correlation similar to the femoral length correlation (R2 ≥ 0.72). The results of this study agreed with those of the literature. We conclude that the mandible is a reliable indicator for estimating fetal age at death. Moreover, MSCT has been shown to be an innovative and reliable technology for this purpose.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire d’Anthropologie Moléculaire et Imagerie de Synthèse AMIS, UMR 5288 CNRS, Faculté de Médecine, 37 allées Jules Guesde, 31073, Toulouse, France

    Marie Minier, Fabrice Dedouit, Delphine Maret, Marion Vergnault, Fathima-Zohra Mokrane, Norbert Telmon & Daniel Rougé

  2. Service de Médecine Légale, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Rangueil, 1 avenue du Professeur Jean Poulhès, TSA 50032, 31059, Toulouse, Cedex 9, France

    Marie Minier, Fabrice Dedouit, Marion Vergnault, Norbert Telmon & Daniel Rougé

  3. Service de Radiologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Rangueil, 1 avenue du Professeur Jean Poulhès, TSA 50032, 31059, Toulouse, Cedex 9, France

    Fabrice Dedouit, Fathima-Zohra Mokrane & Hervé Rousseau

  4. Anthropologie Bioculturelle, Université de la Méditerranée UMR 6578 CNRS-EFS, Faculté de Médecine Nord, 51 boulevard Pierre Dramard, 13916, Marseille, France

    Pascal Adalian

  5. Faculté de Chirurgie Dentaire, CHU Toulouse, 3 chemin des Maraîchers, 31062, Toulouse, France

    Delphine Maret

Authors
  1. Marie Minier
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  2. Fabrice Dedouit
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  3. Delphine Maret
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  4. Marion Vergnault
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  5. Fathima-Zohra Mokrane
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  6. Hervé Rousseau
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  7. Pascal Adalian
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  8. Norbert Telmon
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  9. Daniel Rougé
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Correspondence to Marie Minier.

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Minier, M., Dedouit, F., Maret, D. et al. Fetal age estimation using MSCT scans of the mandible. Int J Legal Med 128, 493–499 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-013-0933-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-013-0933-5

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