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Forensic age diagnostics by magnetic resonance imaging of the proximal humeral epiphysis

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Abstract

The most commonly used radiological method for age estimation of living individuals is X-ray. Computed tomography is not commonly used due to high radiation exposure, which raises ethical concerns. This problem can be solved with the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which avoids the use of ionizing radiation. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the utility of MRI analysis of the proximal humeral epiphyses for forensic age estimations of living individuals. In this study, 395 left proximal humeral epiphyses (patient age 12–30 years) were evaluated with fast-spin-echo proton density–weighted image (FSE PD) sequences in a coronal oblique orientation on shoulder MRI images. A five-stage scoring system was used following the method of Dedouit et al. The intra- and interobserver reliabilities assessed using Cohen’s kappa statistic were κ = 0.818 and κ = 0.798, respectively. According to this study, stage five first appeared at 20 and 21 years of age in males and females, respectively. These results are not directly comparable to any other published study due to the lack of MRI data on proximal humeral head development. These findings may provide valuable information for legally important age thresholds using shoulder MRI. The current study demonstrates that MRI of the proximal humerus can support forensic age estimation. Further research is needed to establish a standardized protocol that can be applied worldwide.

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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 & Elif Hocaoglu

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

    Ismail Ozgur Can

  4. Department of Orthopedics, Tepecik Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey

    Can Doruk Basa & Ismail Eralp Kacmaz

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

    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, 711 10, Heraklion, Crete, Greece

    Elena F. Kranioti

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  1. Oguzhan Ekizoglu
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Ekizoglu, O., Inci, E., Ors, S. et al. Forensic age diagnostics by magnetic resonance imaging of the proximal humeral epiphysis. Int J Legal Med 133, 249–256 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-018-1952-z

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