Forensic age estimation of living individuals: a retrospective analysis.
In recent years, skeletal age determination has become increasingly important in criminal investigations for determining the age of living individuals. To increase diagnostic accuracy, a physical examination, an X-ray examination of the left hand, as well as a dental examination including the determination of the dental status and an X-ray of the dentition should always be performed. In this work, the authors analyze a sample of 52 illegal immigrants who came under their observation in the period from May 1989 to September 2007. A statistical analysis of the results of dental and skeletal age estimations was performed as well as an analysis between the reported and assessed ages. The results showed a significant difference between reported age and assessed biological age (p<0.001); however, no statistical difference was shown between skeletal and assessed dental age (p=0.431).
Santoro
Valeria
V
Section of Legal Medicine, University of Bari, P.zza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy. vasantoro@virgilio.it
De Donno
Antonio
A
Marrone
Maricla
M
Campobasso
Carlo Pietro
CP
Introna
Francesco
F
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000365:Age Determination by Skeleton / Q000379:methods*; D000366:Age Determination by Teeth / Q000379:methods*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D005260:Female; D050276:Hand Bones / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010808:Physical Examination; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014953:Wrist / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging