title: Postmortem CT investigation of skeletal and dental maturation of the fetuses and newborn infants: a serial case study.
abstract: Physical maturation involving bones and teeth is a classic indication of fetal maturity in forensic practice, for which radiological examination is effective. The present study preliminarily investigated the efficacy of postmortem computed tomography (PM-CT) in estimating the gestational age of fetuses (n = 3) and newborn infants (n = 4), compared with plain radiography. Body length and weight estimated in reconstructed CT images approximated the measured values, providing additional data of body mass volume and fat development. The diaphyses of humerus and femur, and the epiphyseal ossification centers of femur and calcaneus were more easily identified and accurately measured in CT images than in plain radiographs. The developmental stage of deciduous teeth was also clearly identified. PM-CT was useful to evaluate the physical maturity of infants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Legal Medicine, Osaka City University Medical School, Asahi-machi 1-4-3, Abeno, Osaka, 545-8585, Japan.
authors.forename: Terumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sakurai
authors.forename: Tomomi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Michiue
authors.forename: Takaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishikawa
authors.forename: Chiemi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Shigeki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sakoda
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kano
authors.forename: Shigeki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oritani
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Maeda
mesh_terms: D000365:Age Determination by Skeleton / Q000379:methods*; D000366:Age Determination by Teeth / Q000379:methods*; D050218:Body Fat Distribution; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D001846:Bone Development; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D018483:Diaphyses / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development; D005333:Fetus / Q000473:pathology*; D049429:Forensic Pathology / Q000379:methods; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010012:Osteogenesis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014074:Tooth Calcification; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development