Skip to main content
Top
Published in: Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology 4/2011

01-12-2011 | Original Article

Age assessment by the Greulich and Pyle method compared to other skeletal X-ray and dental methods in data from Finnish child victims of the Southeast Asian Tsunami

Authors: Olli Varkkola, Helena Ranta, Mari Metsäniitty, Antti Sajantila

Published in: Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology | Issue 4/2011

Login to get access

Abstract

The validity of the age assessment method based on the “Radiographic Atlas of Skeletal Development of the Hand and Wrist” by Greulich and Pyle (1st edition 1950) has been frequently questioned. The purpose of this study was to examine the reliability of this widely used method and to compare it to various dental and other skeletal age assessment methods. Forty-seven Finnish children of known ages below 16 years, who perished in Thailand in the Southeast Asian Tsunami on 26 December 2004 were examined. Every victim repatriated to Finland underwent a complete forensic autopsy including CT-scan, toxicological screening, and diatom analysis in order to establish the cause of death, as well as DNA testing and dental examination for the verification of the identification established in Thailand. Age assessment was performed by dental and skeletal methods. The average difference between the age assessment values obtained by the Greulich and Pyle method, and the chronological age was 9.7 months. In addition to the Greulich and Pyle method, an alternate skeletal method, Tanner and Whitehouse 2, resulted in an average age difference of 10.3 months. Dental age assessment methods were based either on the eruption (Nyström method, 8 cases, average age difference 5.6 months), or the development of the crown and roots (Demirjian method, 33 cases, average age difference 5.2 months and ABFO method, 7 cases, average differences 12.6 months). Dental methods proved to be most accurate in childhood until the teeth—with the exception of wisdom teeth—have erupted and root development is completed. In adolescence, however, the validity of skeletal methods improves considerably.
Literature
1.
go back to reference Greulich WW, Pyle SI. Radiographic atlas of skeletal development of the hand and wrist. 2nd ed. Stanford: Stanford University Press; 1959. Greulich WW, Pyle SI. Radiographic atlas of skeletal development of the hand and wrist. 2nd ed. Stanford: Stanford University Press; 1959.
2.
go back to reference Loder RT, Estle DT, Morrison K, Eggleston D, Fish DN, Greenfield ML, Guire KE. Applicability of the Greulich and Pyle skeletal age standards to black and white children of today. AJDC. 1993;147:1329–33.PubMed Loder RT, Estle DT, Morrison K, Eggleston D, Fish DN, Greenfield ML, Guire KE. Applicability of the Greulich and Pyle skeletal age standards to black and white children of today. AJDC. 1993;147:1329–33.PubMed
3.
go back to reference Ontell FK, Ivanovic M, Ablin DS, Barlow TW. Bone age in children of diverse ethnicity. AJR. 1996;167:1395–8.PubMed Ontell FK, Ivanovic M, Ablin DS, Barlow TW. Bone age in children of diverse ethnicity. AJR. 1996;167:1395–8.PubMed
4.
go back to reference van Rijn RR, Lequin MH, Robben SGF, Hop WCJ, van Kuick H. Is the Greulich and Pyle atlas still valid for Dutch Caucasian children today? Pediatr Radiol. 2001;31:748–52.PubMedCrossRef van Rijn RR, Lequin MH, Robben SGF, Hop WCJ, van Kuick H. Is the Greulich and Pyle atlas still valid for Dutch Caucasian children today? Pediatr Radiol. 2001;31:748–52.PubMedCrossRef
6.
go back to reference Tanner JM, Whitehouse RH, Marshall WA, Healy MJR, Goldstein H. Assessment of skeletal maturity and prediction of adult height (TW2 method). London: Academic Press; 1983. Tanner JM, Whitehouse RH, Marshall WA, Healy MJR, Goldstein H. Assessment of skeletal maturity and prediction of adult height (TW2 method). London: Academic Press; 1983.
7.
go back to reference Nyström M, Peck L, Kleemola-Kujala E, Evälahti M, Kataja M. Emergence of permanent teeth and dental age in a series of Finns. Acta Odontol Scand. 2001;59:49–56.PubMedCrossRef Nyström M, Peck L, Kleemola-Kujala E, Evälahti M, Kataja M. Emergence of permanent teeth and dental age in a series of Finns. Acta Odontol Scand. 2001;59:49–56.PubMedCrossRef
8.
go back to reference Chaillet N, Nyström M, Demirjian A. Comparison of dental maturity in children of different ethnic origins: international maturity curves for clinicians. J Forensic Sci 2005;50(5). Chaillet N, Nyström M, Demirjian A. Comparison of dental maturity in children of different ethnic origins: international maturity curves for clinicians. J Forensic Sci 2005;50(5).
9.
go back to reference Demirjian A, Goldstein H, Tanner JM. A new system of dental age assesment. Hum Biol. 1973;45(2):211–27.PubMed Demirjian A, Goldstein H, Tanner JM. A new system of dental age assesment. Hum Biol. 1973;45(2):211–27.PubMed
10.
go back to reference Mincer HH, Harris EF, Berryman HE. The A.B.F.O. Study of third molar development and its use as an estimator of chronological age. J Forensic Sci. 1993;38(2):379–90.PubMed Mincer HH, Harris EF, Berryman HE. The A.B.F.O. Study of third molar development and its use as an estimator of chronological age. J Forensic Sci. 1993;38(2):379–90.PubMed
11.
go back to reference Nyström M, et al. Age assessment in small children: reference values based on counts of deciduous teeth in Finns. Forensic Sci Int. 2000;110:179–88.PubMedCrossRef Nyström M, et al. Age assessment in small children: reference values based on counts of deciduous teeth in Finns. Forensic Sci Int. 2000;110:179–88.PubMedCrossRef
12.
go back to reference Chaillet N, Nyström M, Kataja M, Demirjian A. Dental maturity curves in Finnish children: Demirjian’s method revisited and polynomial functions for age assessment. J Forensic Sci. 2004;49:1324–31.PubMed Chaillet N, Nyström M, Kataja M, Demirjian A. Dental maturity curves in Finnish children: Demirjian’s method revisited and polynomial functions for age assessment. J Forensic Sci. 2004;49:1324–31.PubMed
13.
go back to reference Kreitner K-F, Schweden FJ, Riepert T, Nafe B, Thelen M. Bone age determination based on the study of the medial extremity of the clavicle. Eur Radiol. 1998;8:1116–22.PubMedCrossRef Kreitner K-F, Schweden FJ, Riepert T, Nafe B, Thelen M. Bone age determination based on the study of the medial extremity of the clavicle. Eur Radiol. 1998;8:1116–22.PubMedCrossRef
14.
go back to reference Bhat VJ, Kamath GP. Age estimation from root development mandibular third molars in comparison with skeletal age of writs joint. Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 2007;28:238–41.PubMedCrossRef Bhat VJ, Kamath GP. Age estimation from root development mandibular third molars in comparison with skeletal age of writs joint. Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 2007;28:238–41.PubMedCrossRef
16.
go back to reference Mora S, Boechat MI, Pietka E, Huang HK, Gilsanz V. Skeletal age determinations in children of European and African descent: applicability of the Greulich and Pyle standards. Pediatr Res. 2001;50:624–8.PubMedCrossRef Mora S, Boechat MI, Pietka E, Huang HK, Gilsanz V. Skeletal age determinations in children of European and African descent: applicability of the Greulich and Pyle standards. Pediatr Res. 2001;50:624–8.PubMedCrossRef
18.
go back to reference Letter from American Leaders in Dentistry. Medicine and psychology expressing concern over irresponsible age determination practices affecting the lives of young immigrants, including asylum seekers to Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Undersigned by 73 experts, June 2, 2004. Letter from American Leaders in Dentistry. Medicine and psychology expressing concern over irresponsible age determination practices affecting the lives of young immigrants, including asylum seekers to Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Undersigned by 73 experts, June 2, 2004.
Metadata
Title
Age assessment by the Greulich and Pyle method compared to other skeletal X-ray and dental methods in data from Finnish child victims of the Southeast Asian Tsunami
Authors
Olli Varkkola
Helena Ranta
Mari Metsäniitty
Antti Sajantila
Publication date
01-12-2011
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology / Issue 4/2011
Print ISSN: 1547-769X
Electronic ISSN: 1556-2891
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-010-9173-x

Other articles of this Issue 4/2011

Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology 4/2011 Go to the issue