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Applicability of T1-weighted MRI in the assessment of forensic age based on the epiphyseal closure of the humeral head

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Abstract

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, 12–30 years) 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 κ = 0.898 and κ = 0.828, respectively. The earliest age of epiphysis closure was 17 years for females and 18 years 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.

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Author notes

  1. Oguzhan Ekizoglu and Elena F. Kranioti contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Forensic Medicine, Tepecik Training and Research Hospital, Güney mahallesi 1140/1 Yenisehir-Konak, Izmir, Turkey

    Oguzhan Ekizoglu

  2. Department of Radiology, Bakirkoy Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey

    Ercan Inci & Suna Ors

  3. Department of Orthopaedics, Tepecik Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey

    Ismail Eralp Kacmaz & Can Doruk Basa

  4. Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey

    Ismail Ozgur Can

  5. Unit for Forensic Anthropology, School of History, Classics and Archaeology, University of Edinburgh, 4 Teviot Place, Edinburgh, EH8 9AG, Scotland

    Elena F. Kranioti

  6. Forensic Pathology Division Crete, Hellenic Republic Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, Heraklion, Crete, Greece

    Elena F. Kranioti

  7. Department of Medical Imaging, University Hospital of Heraklion, 71110, Heraklion, Crete, Greece

    Elena F. Kranioti

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  1. Oguzhan Ekizoglu
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Correspondence to Oguzhan Ekizoglu.

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Ekizoglu, O., Inci, E., Ors, S. et al. Applicability of T1-weighted MRI in the assessment of forensic age based on the epiphyseal closure of the humeral head. Int J Legal Med 133, 241–248 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-018-1868-7

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