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Age estimation at death by the study of chest plate radiographs: establishing a Tunisian male score

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Abstract

We aim to establish a Tunisian score for age estimation through the study of chest plate’s radiographs of a Tunisian male sample. We have focused on the study of 128 chest plate radiographs of Tunisian male individuals. We have established a score of eight criteria. The total score ranges from 8 to 32. Three observers scored double-blind the X-ray films. We studied the correlation of each criterion as well as the total score with chronological age for each observer. We also tested the reproducibility and the repeatability of criteria and total score. We calculated the estimated age for each score. We studied the relationship between the estimated age and the chronological age. The correlation between the total score and the chronological age has been good for the three observers (0.746, 0.756 and 0.742). The total score gives an estimation of age with a standard deviation of ± 5.88 years and a confidence interval of 95%, the interval’s width increases gradually from 6.9 years to 23 years.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Forensic Medicine and Laboratory of Research LR12SP14, Teaching Hospital Fattouma Bourguiba, University of Monastir, 5000, Monastir, Tunisia

    Nidhal Haj Salem, Said Saadi, Sami Ben Jomaa, Houssem Othmani & Ali Chadly

  2. Department of Radiology, Teaching Hospital Fattouma Bourguiba, Monastir, Tunisia

    Badii Hmida & Mondher Golli

  3. Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Teaching Hospital Taher Sfar, Mahdia, Tunisia

    Sana Elmhamdi

  4. Department of Forensic Medicine, Teaching Hospital Taher Sfar, Mahdia, Tunisia

    Abir Aissaoui

Authors
  1. Nidhal Haj Salem
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  2. Said Saadi
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  3. Sami Ben Jomaa
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  4. Houssem Othmani
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  5. Badii Hmida
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  6. Sana Elmhamdi
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  7. Abir Aissaoui
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  8. Mondher Golli
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  9. Ali Chadly
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Correspondence to Nidhal Haj Salem.

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The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Medicine, Monastir University.

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Haj Salem, N., Saadi, S., Jomaa, S.B. et al. Age estimation at death by the study of chest plate radiographs: establishing a Tunisian male score. Int J Legal Med 134, 775–782 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-019-02101-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-019-02101-5

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