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Magnetic resonance imaging of the proximal tibial epiphysis: could it be helpful in forensic age estimation?

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Abstract

There is an increasing demand for age estimations of living persons who are involved in civil and criminal procedures but lack a valid birth certificate indicating their date of birth. Several studies have recommended the application of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and assessment of the stage of epiphyseal fusion in age estimation. This study involved retrospective MRI analysis of 335 cases (217 males and 118 females) whose ages ranged from 8 to 28 years (yrs). We assessed the degree of ossification of the proximal tibial epiphysis depending on the classifications of Schmeling and Kellinghaus used for the main stages (I, II, III, IV & V) and substages (IIa, b, c & IIIa, b, c). Significant differences between males and females at stages IIIc, IV and V (p < 0.001) were observed. Additionally, the ossification of the proximal tibial epiphyses occurred earlier in females than in males (2–4 yrs). The mean of ages in stage IV was approximately 18.6 yrs. in females and 22.5 yrs. in males, meaning that stage IV can be used as a valuable forensic marker to determine whether the person in question has reached the age of 18 yrs. We concluded that the application of MRI in the assessment of the ossification status of the proximal tibial epiphysis could be helpful in age estimation for various forensic purposes.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to express our sincere appreciation to Prof. Mai Samir for her valuable guidance and to all members of the Radiology Department for their encouragement.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Forensic Medicine &Clinical Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Asharquia, Zagazig, 44519, Egypt

    Eman Ahmed Alaa El-Din & Heba El Sayed Mostafa

  2. Departments of Radiodiagnosis, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt

    Engy Fathiy Tantawy

  3. Departments of Community, Environmental & Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt

    Dalia Abdallah El-Shafei

Authors
  1. Eman Ahmed Alaa El-Din
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  2. Heba El Sayed Mostafa
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  3. Engy Fathiy Tantawy
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  4. Dalia Abdallah El-Shafei
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Correspondence to Eman Ahmed Alaa El-Din.

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The study protocol was approved by The Institutional Review Board (IRB) of the Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University and the Radiology Department. Ethical considerations and confidentiality were respected.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Informed consent was waived as the data used was completely anonymized.

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El-Din, E.A.A., Mostafa, H.E.S., Tantawy, E.F. et al. Magnetic resonance imaging of the proximal tibial epiphysis: could it be helpful in forensic age estimation?. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 15, 352–361 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-019-00116-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-019-00116-3

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