title: Age estimation of a Thai population based on maturation of the medial clavicular epiphysis using computed tomography.
abstract: Ossification of the medial clavicular epiphysis plays an essential role in age estimation for forensic analyses. This study was designed to assess clavicular development in a Thai population using thin-slice computed tomography. Ossification status of the medial clavicular epiphysis was determined in 409 patients using a 5 stage classification by Schmeling et al. Stages 2 and 3 were further subclassified into early (stage a), intermediate (stage b), and late phases (stage c) using criteria from Kellinghaus et al. The sub-stage classification increased accuracy of age estimation particularly within stage 3. Results from this study can be used as a more accurate, Thai specific reference for estimating age. For Thai legal proceedings, we recommend using stage 4 of maturation to represent age>18 years and stage 5 occurring at >20 years.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Thailand. Electronic address: nuttaya@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Nuttaya
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pattamapaspong
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Thailand. Electronic address: madla.cha@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Chakri
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Madla
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Thailand. Electronic address: turquoise0401@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Karnda
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mekjaidee
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Thailand. Electronic address: sirianong@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Sirianong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Namwongprom
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000365:Age Determination by Skeleton / Q000379:methods*; D044466:Asian People; D002648:Child; D002968:Clavicle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000254:growth & development*; D004838:Epiphyses / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography; D010012:Osteogenesis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013785:Thailand; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Age determination; Clavicle; Computed tomography; Epiphyses; Forensic anthropology population data; Law enforcement