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Open Access 01-11-2020 | Magnetic Resonance Imaging | Method Paper

Evaluation of secondary dentin formation for forensic age assessment by means of semi-automatic segmented ultrahigh field 9.4 T UTE MRI datasets

Authors: Maximilian Timme, Jens Borkert, Nina Nagelmann, Andreas Schmeling

Published in: International Journal of Legal Medicine | Issue 6/2020

Abstract

Dental methods are an important element of forensic age assessment of living persons. After the development of all the teeth, including third molars, is completed, degenerative characteristics can be used to assess age. The radiologically detectable reduction of the dental pulp cavity has been described as such a feature. We investigated the suitability of ultrahigh field 9.4 T ultrashort time echo (UTE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the evaluation of pulp cavity volume in relation to the total tooth volume in 4 extracted human teeth. The volume calculations were performed after semi-automatic segmentation by software AMIRA using the different intensities of the structures in the MRI dataset. The automatically selected intensity range was adjusted manually to the structures. The visual distinction of pulp and tooth structure was possible in all cases with in-plane resolution < 70 μm. Ratios of tooth/pulp volume were calculated, which could be suitable for age estimation procedures. Intensity shifts within the pulp were not always correctly assigned by the software in the course of segmentation. 9.4 T UTE-MRI technology is a forward-looking, radiation-free procedure that allows the volume of the dental pulp to be determined at high spatial resolution and is thus potentially a valuable instrument for the age assessment of living persons.

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Title: Evaluation of secondary dentin formation for forensic age assessment by means of semi-automatic segmented ultrahigh field 9.4 T UTE MRI datasets
Authors: Maximilian Timme
Jens Borkert
Nina Nagelmann
Andreas Schmeling
Publication date: 01-11-2020
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keywords: Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Published in: International Journal of Legal Medicine / Issue 6/2020
Print ISSN: 0937-9827
Electronic ISSN: 1437-1596
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-020-02425-7

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Evaluation of secondary dentin formation for forensic age assessment by means of semi-automatic segmented ultrahigh field 9.4 T UTE MRI datasets

Abstract

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Abstract

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