Correlation of age and ossification of the medial clavicular epiphysis using computed tomography.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was the examination of relationship between the age and the ossification of medial epiphysis of the clavicle referred to CT examination.


METHODS
Concerning the epiphyseal ossification of the clavicle CT's of 100 patients (50 male and 50 female) between 16 and 25 years (10 patients for each year) were analyzed by three viewers.


RESULTS
In the legal relevant age segment (16-25a) we saw a turnover from stage 3 to stage 4 at the age of 21 years. The calculated empiric distribution function showed 95% of stage 4 over 21 years while 75% of the patients with stage 3 were under 21 years. A reconstruction kernel suitable for osseous structures should be used, images should be viewed or presented in a bone window.


CONCLUSIONS
According to these results it can be concluded that a person with stage 4 is probably 21 years or older, while a stage 3 leads to an estimated age under 21 years. On the other hand, a confidence level of 99.67% is not reached. Therefore, CT of the medial epiphysis of the clavicle will only be suitable for age estimation around the age of 21 years, if this relevant statistic obstacle is defeated. Bearing this in mind, further studies are needed to evaluate slice thickness as the most critical parameter.
Schulze
Dirk
D
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Head and Neck Diagnostics Section, University Freiburg, Hugstetter Str. 55, 79095 Freiburg, Germany. dirk.schulze@uniklinik-freiburg.de
Rother
Uwe
U
Fuhrmann
Andreas
A
Richel
Susan
S
Faulmann
Grit
G
Heiland
Max
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000365:Age Determination by Skeleton / Q000379:methods*; D002968:Clavicle / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004838:Epiphyses / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D018732:Forensic Anthropology / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010012:Osteogenesis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed