title: Age estimation using CT imaging of the third molar tooth, the medial clavicular epiphysis, and the spheno-occipital synchondrosis: a multifactorial approach.
abstract: A multi-factorial method for estimating age was devised based on the development of the 3rd molar tooth, the medial clavicular epiphysis, and the spheno-occipital synchondrosis, using multiple regression as the means to construct age estimation formulae and CT scanning as the imaging modality. The sample consisted of approximately 600 individuals from a contemporary Australian population, between the ages of 15 and 25 years, who were admitted to the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, Melbourne, Australia, for the purposes of medico-legal death investigation. Results show that the spheno-occipital synchondrosis does not contribute to the age estimation model for this age cohort. The regression computation for the 3rd molar tooth and medial clavicle, when combined into a single multiple regression calculation, provides a robust model with tighter age ranges at the 95% confidence interval (CI) than when each age marker is used individually. This research provides a method to estimate age for unknown age Australian individuals in the problematic age group of 15-25 years with greater precision than previously possible.
authors: Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine and the Department of Forensic Medicine, Monash University, 57-83 Kavanagh St, Southbank, Melbourne, Australia. richardb@vifm.org
authors: Richard B
authors: RB
authors: Bassed
authors: Christopher
authors: C
authors: Briggs
authors: Olaf H
authors: OH
authors: Drummer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000365:Age Determination by Skeleton / Q000379:methods*; D000366:Age Determination by Teeth / Q000379:methods*; D001315:Australia; D002968:Clavicle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development; D004838:Epiphyses / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development; D005260:Female; D018732:Forensic Anthropology / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000254:growth & development; D009777:Occipital Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000254:growth & development; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013100:Sphenoid Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000254:growth & development; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult