Age at Death Estimation Using Multislice Computed Tomography Reconstructions of the Posterior Pelvis

• NCJ Number: 227697
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 54 Issue: 4 Dated: July 2009 Pages: 773-778
• Author(s): Pierre Barrier M.D.; Fabrice Dedouit M.D.; Jose Braga Ph.D.; Francis Joffre M.D., Ph.D.; Daniel Rouge M.D., Ph.D.; Herve Rousseau M.D., Ph.D.; Norbert Telmon M.D., Ph.D.
• Date Published: July 2009
• Length: 6 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study used multislice computed tomography (MSCT) reconstructions of the posterior pelvis as a means of estimating age at death.

Abstract

The findings indicate that MSCT-evaluated trabecular bone criteria are promising and yield useful information about age at death. Lovejoy's method, published in 1985, was the first attempt to use the auricular surface in estimating age at death. Typical stages of ageing of the auricular surface were defined, and this method is based on comparison of the specimen to modal stages. Regarded as independent of sex, Lovejoy's method also has the advantage of using the durable bony region supporting the auricular surface, which is often recovered in a paleoanthropological context; however, high intraobserver error and a tendency to overestimate ages of younger adults and underestimate ages of older individuals have been noted. In order to overcome these limitations, Buckberry and Chamberlain recently proposed a revised method, using an independent evaluation of each characteristics and a composite score. This method was initially thought to be promising, but a more recent report suggested that the results achieved might have been too optimistic and that only three chronological stages derived from the composite score could be statistically supported. This independent scoring is regarded as easier to apply than the original method and may identify older individuals. During the last two decades, computed tomography has made major technological advances, resulting in a dramatic improvement of spatial resolution and real-time volume rendering as well as greater availability. Features of the auricular surface can now be evaluated on CT-based 3D reconstructions. The changes that occurred in the posterior part of the sacropubic trabecular bundle were evaluated on CT reconstructions by three new criteria, which exhibited a good intraobserver and interobserver agreement. 5 figures, 5 tables, and 21 references