Estimation of Age from Soft X-ray Findings of Lumbar Vertebrae Using Image Processing

• NCJ Number: 134364
• Journal: Japanese Journal of Legal Medicine Volume: 45 Issue: 4 Dated: (August 1991) Pages: 323-329
• Author(s): M Funayama; K Saito; M Hara; K Yabe; I Mizusawa; H Watanabe
• Date Published: 1991
• Length: 7 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Country: Japan

Annotation

Age changes that occur in human trabecular bone were examined by calculating the bone density in the soft x-ray films taken from the third lumbar vertebra using an image processing system.

Abstract

The samples were obtained from 177 adult corpses (98 males and 69 females). Loss of trabecular bone density was found in and after the age group of 30's in both sexes. Especially in the age group of 50's in females, the decrease in bone density was remarkable. Bone density scattered widely in all age groups, even in the young group. The wide dispersion of bone density in the same age group may produce some unreliable results for estimating age; therefore, the estimation method described in the article should be applied cautiously to actual identification cases. 14 references 3 tables, and 4 figures (Author abstract modified)