Top

Published in:

01-01-2019 | Original Article

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

Authors: Oguzhan Ekizoglu, Ercan Inci, Suna Ors, Ismail Eralp Kacmaz, Can Doruk Basa, Ismail Ozgur Can, Elena F. Kranioti

Published in: International Journal of Legal Medicine | Issue 1/2019

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.

Gilsanz V, Ratib O (2012) Hand Boen Age. A digital atlas of skeletal maturity. Springer, Berlin

Pludowski P, Lebiedowski M, Lorenc RS (2005) Evaluation of practical use of bone age assessments based on DXA-derived hand scans in diagnosis of skeletal status in healthy and diseased children. J Clin Densitom 8(1):48–56PubMedCrossRef

Ilich JZ, Hangartner TN, Skugor M, Roche AF, Goel PK, Matkovic V (1996) Skeletal age as a determinant of bone mass in preadolescent females. Skelet Radiol 25(5):431–439CrossRef

Morris EB, Shelso J, Smeltzer MP, Thomas NA, Karimova EJ, Li CS, Merchant T, Gajjar A, Kaste SC (2008) The use of bone age for bone mineral density interpretation in a cohort of pediatric brain tumor patients. Pediatr Radiol 38(12):1285–1292PubMedCrossRef

Ritz-Timme S, Cattaneo C, Collins MJ, Waite ER, Schutz HW, Kaatsch HJ et al (2000) Age estimation: the state of the art in relation to the specific demands of forensic practise. Int J Legal Med 113(3):129–136PubMedCrossRef

Schmeling A, Grundmann C, Fuhrmann A, Kaatsch HJ, Knell B, Ramsthaler F, Reisinger W, Riepert T, Ritz-Timme S, Rösing FW, Rötzscher K, Geserick G (2008) Criteria for age estimation in living individuals. Int J Legal Med 122(6):457–460PubMedCrossRef

Cunha E, Baccino E, Martrille L, Ramsthaler F, Prieto J, Schuliar Y, Lynnerup N, Cattaneo C (2009) The problem of aging human remains and living individuals: a review. Forensic Sci Int 193(1–3):1–13PubMedCrossRef

Schmeling A, Olze A, Reisinger W, Geserick G (2004) Forensic age diagnostics of living people undergoing criminal proceedings. Forensic Sci Int 144(2–3):243–245. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2004.04.059 PubMedCrossRef

Janes L (2008) Criminal liability of minors and severity of penalties: European trends and developments. Howard League for Penal Reform http://wwweuropeanrightseu/public/commenti/LauraJanes_enpdf Accessed: 21 Nov 2016

10.

Jones VF, Committee on Early Childhood, Adoption, and Dependent Care, High PC, Donoghue E, Fussell JJ et al (2012) Comprehensive health evaluation of the newly adopted child. Pediatrics 129(1):e214–e223. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2011-2381 PubMedCrossRef

11.

Malina RM (2011) Skeletal age and age verification in youth sport. Sports Med 41(11):925–947PubMedCrossRef

12.

Morishima A, Grumbach MM, Simpson ER, Fisher C, Qin K (1995) Aromatase deficiency in male and female siblings caused by a novel mutation and the physiological role of estrogens. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 80(12):3689–3698PubMed

13.

Grumbach MM (2000) Estrogen, bone, growth and sex: a sea change in conventional wisdom. J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab 13:1439–1455PubMedCrossRef

14.

Vogler JB III, Murphy WA (1988) Bone marrow imaging. Radiology 168(3):679–693PubMedCrossRef

15.

Saint-Martin P, Rerolle C, Dedouit F, Bouilleau L, Rousseau H, Rouge D et al (2013) Age estimation by magnetic resonance imaging of the distal tibial epiphysis and the calcaneum. Int J Legal Med 127(5):1023–1030PubMedCrossRef

16.

Ekizoglu O, Hocaoglu E, Can IO, Inci E, Aksoy S, Bilgili MG (2015) Magnetic resonance imaging of distal tibia and calcaneus for forensic age estimation in living individuals. Int J Legal Med 129(4):825–831PubMedCrossRef

17.

Dedouit F, Auriol J, Rousseau H, Rouge D, Crubezy E, Telmon N (2012) Age assessment by magnetic resonance imaging of the knee: a preliminary study. Forensic Sci Int 217(1–3):232PubMed

18.

Schmeling A, Schulz R, Reisinger W, Muhler M, Wernecke KD, Geserick G (2004) Studies on the time frame for ossification of the medial clavicular epiphyseal cartilage in conventional radiography. Int J Legal Med 118(1):5–8PubMedCrossRef

19.

Kellinghaus M, Schulz R, Vieth V, Schmidt S, Pfeiffer H, Schmeling A (2010) Enhanced possibilities to make statements on the ossification status of the medial clavicular epiphysis using an amplified staging scheme in evaluating thin-slice CT scans. Int J Legal Med 124(4):321–325PubMedCrossRef

20.

European Commission. Radiation protection. Medico-legal exposures, exposures with ionising radiation without medical indication. Proceedings of the International Symposium. 2002. http://ec.europa.eu/energy/nuclear/radiation_protection/doc/publication/130.pdf. Accessed 4 April 2014

21.

Schmidt S, Schiborr M, Pfeiffer H, Schmeling A, Schulz R (2013) Age dependence of epiphyseal ossification of the distal radius in ultrasound diagnostics. Int J Legal Med 127(4):831–838PubMedCrossRef

22.

Schmidt S, Schiborr M, Pfeiffer H, Schmeling A, Schulz R (2013) Sonographic examination of the apophysis of the iliac crest for forensic age estimation in living persons. Sci Justice 53(4):395–401PubMedCrossRef

23.

Schulz R, Schiborr M, Pfeiffer H, Schmidt S, Schmeling A (2013) Sonographic assessment of the ossification of the medial clavicular epiphysis in 616 individuals. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 9(3):351–357PubMedCrossRef

24.

Saint-Martin P, Rerolle C, Pucheux J, Dedouit F, Telmon N (2015) Contribution of distal femur MRI to the determination of the 18-year limit in forensic age estimation. Int J Legal Med 129(3):619–620PubMedCrossRef

25.

Tangmose S, Jensen KE, Villa C, Lynnerup N (2014) Forensic age estimation from the clavicle using 1.0T MRI—preliminary results. Forensic Sci Int 234:7–12PubMedCrossRef

26.

Hillewig E, Degroote J, Van der Paelt T, Visscher A, Vandemaele P, Lutin B et al (2013) Magnetic resonance imaging of the sternal extremity of the clavicle in forensic age estimation: towards more sound age estimates. Int J Legal Med 127(3):677–689PubMedCrossRef

27.

Vieth V, Schulz R, Brinkmeier P, Dvorak J, Schmeling A (2014) Age estimation in U-20 football players using 3.0 tesla MRI of the clavicle. Forensic Sci Int 241:118–122PubMedCrossRef

28.

Krämer JA, Schmidt S, Jürgens KU, Lentschig M, Schmeling A, Vieth V (2014) Forensic age estimation in living individuals using 3.0 T MRI of the distal femur. Int J Legal Med 128(3):509–514. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-014-0967-3 PubMedCrossRef

29.

Schmidt S, Muhler M, Schmeling A, Reisinger W, Schulz R (2007) Magnetic resonance imaging of the clavicular ossification. Int J Legal Med 121(4):321–324PubMedCrossRef

30.

Ekizoglu O, Hocaoglu E, Inci E, Can IO, Aksoy S, Kazimoglu C (2016) Forensic age estimation via 3-T magnetic resonance imaging of ossification of the proximal tibial and distal femoral epiphyses: use of a T2-weighted fast spin-echo technique. Forensic Sci Int 260:102–107PubMedCrossRef

31.

Wittschieber D, Vieth V, Timme M, Dvorak J, Schmeling A (2014) Magnetic resonance imaging of the iliac crest: age estimation in under-20 soccer players. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 10(2):198–202PubMedCrossRef

32.

Dvorak J, George J, Junge A, Hodler J (2007) Age determination by magnetic resonance imaging of the wrist in adolescent male football players. Br J Sports Med 41(1):45–52PubMedCrossRef

33.

George J, Nagendran J, Azmi K (2012) Comparison study of growth plate fusion using MRI versus plain radiographs as used in age determination for exclusion of overaged football players. Br J Sports Med 46(4):273–278PubMedCrossRef

34.

Terada Y, Kono S, Tamada D, Uchiumi T, Kose K, Miyagi R, Yamabe E, Yoshioka H (2013) Skeletal age assessment in children using an open compact MRI system. Magn Reson Med 69(6):1697–1702PubMedCrossRef

35.

Tomei E, Battisti S, Martino M, Nissman D, Semelka RC (2014) Text-atlas of skeletal age determination: MRI of the hand and wrist in children. Wiley-Blackwell, HobokenCrossRef

36.

Tomei E, Sartori A, Nissman D, Al Ansari N, Battisti S, Rubini A et al (2014) Value of MRI of the hand and the wrist in evaluation of bone age: preliminary results. J Magn Reson Imaging 39(5):1198–1205PubMedCrossRef

37.

Serinelli S, Panebianco V, Martino M, Battisti S, Rodacki K, Marinelli E, Zaccagna F, Semelka RC, Tomei E (2015) Accuracy of MRI skeletal age estimation for subjects 12-19. Potential use for subjects of unknown age. Int J Legal Med 129(3):609–617PubMedCrossRef

38.

Schmidt S, Vieth V, Timme M, Dvorak J, Schmeling A (2015) Examination of ossification of the distal radial epiphysis using magnetic resonance imaging. New insights for age estimation in young footballers in FIFA tournaments. Sci Justice 55(2):139–144PubMedCrossRef

39.

Kwong S, Kothary S, Poncinelli LL (2014) Skeletal development of the proximal humerus in the pediatric population: MRI features. AJR Am J Roentgenol 202(2):418–425PubMedCrossRef

40.

Zember JS, Rosenberg ZS, Kwong S, Kothary SP, Bedoya MA (2015) Normal skeletal maturation and imaging pitfalls in the pediatric shoulder. Radiographics 35(4):1108–1122. https://doi.org/10.1148/rg.2015140254 CrossRefPubMed

41.

FIFA to introduce MRI screening at Nigeria 2009 to combat the fielding of over-age players. Federation Internationale de Football Association 2009. http://www.fifa.com/u17worldcup/news/y=2009/m=9/news=fifa-introduce-mri-screening-nigeria-2009-combat-the-fielding-over-age-1096817.html. Accessed 3 Jan 2017

42.

Altman DG (1991) Practical statistics for medical research. Chapman & Hall, New York

43.

Cardoso HF (2008) Age estimation of adolescent and young adult male and female skeletons II, epiphyseal union at the upper limb and scapular girdle in a modern Portuguese skeletal sample. Am J Phys Anthropol 137(1):97–105PubMedCrossRef

44.

Coqueugniot H, Weaver TD (2007) Brief communication: infracranial maturation in the skeletal collection from Coimbra, Portugal: new aging standards for epiphyseal union. Am J Phys Anthropol 134(3):424–437PubMedCrossRef

45.

Schaefer MC (2008) A summary of epiphyseal union timings in Bosnian males. Int J Osteoarchaeol 18(5):536–545CrossRef

46.

Schaefer MC, Black SM (2005) Comparison of ages of epiphyseal union in north American and Bosnian skeletal material. J Forensic Sci 50(4):777–784PubMedCrossRef

47.

Schaefer M, Aben G, Vogelsberg C (2015) A demonstration of appearance and union times of three shoulder ossification centers in adolescent and post-adolescent children. J Forensic Radiol Imaging 3:49–56CrossRef

48.

Jit I, Singh B (1971) A radiological study of the time of fusion of certain epiphyses in Punjabis. J Anat Soc India 20:1–27

49.

Tirpude B, Surwade V, Murkey P, Wankhade P, Meena S (2014) Age determination from epiphyseal union of bones at shoulder joint in girls of central India. J Forensic Med Sci Law 23(1):1–7

50.

Scharte P, Vieth V, Schulz R, Ramsthaler F, Püschel K, Bajanowski T, Pfeiffer H, Schmeling A, Schmidt S, Wittschieber D (2017) Comparison of imaging planes during CT-based evaluation of clavicular ossification: a multi-center study. Int J Legal Med 131:1391–1397. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-017-1615-5 PubMedCrossRef

51.

Schmeling A, Reisinger W, Loreck D, Vendura K, Markus W, Geserick G (2000) Effects of ethnicity on skeletal maturation: consequences for forensic age estimations. Int J Legal Med 113:253–258PubMedCrossRef

52.

Schmeling A, Schulz R, Danner B, Rosing FW (2006) The impact of economic progress and modernization in medicine on the ossification of hand and wrist. Int J Legal Med 120:121–126PubMedCrossRef

53.

Franklin D, Flavel A, Noble J, Swift L, Karkhanis S (2015) Forensic age estimation in living individuals: methodological considerations in the context of medico-legal practice. Res Rep Forensic Med Sci 5:53–66

Title: Applicability of T1-weighted MRI in the assessment of forensic age based on the epiphyseal closure of the humeral head
Authors: Oguzhan Ekizoglu
Ercan Inci
Suna Ors
Ismail Eralp Kacmaz
Can Doruk Basa
Ismail Ozgur Can
Elena F. Kranioti
Publication date: 01-01-2019
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: International Journal of Legal Medicine / Issue 1/2019
Print ISSN: 0937-9827
Electronic ISSN: 1437-1596
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-018-1868-7

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

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

Abstract

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 1/2019

Acknowledgement to referees

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the fully formed wisdom tooth as a radiological marker of adulthood

Online selling of wildlife part with spurious name: a serious challenge for wildlife crime enforcement

Reinhard B. Dettmeyer: Forensic histopathology—fundamentals and perspectives (second edition)

Forensic features for Yunnan Lisu ethnic minority and phylogenetic structure exploration among 26 Chinese populations

Allele frequencies and forensic genetic parameters of 10 supplementary and two CODIS loci in a Japanese population genotyped using an Investigator HDplex Kit