title: Application of statistical shape analysis for the estimation of bone and forensic age using the shapes of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th cervical vertebrae in a young Japanese population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  From computed tomographic images, the dentocentral synchondrosis can be identified in the second cervical vertebra. This can demarcate the border between the odontoid process and the body of the 2nd cervical vertebra and serve as a good model for the prediction of bone and forensic age. Nevertheless, until now, there has been no application of the 2nd cervical vertebra based on the dentocentral synchondrosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, statistical shape analysis was used to build bone and forensic age estimation regression models. Following the principles of statistical shape analysis and principal components analysis, we used cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) to evaluate a Japanese population (35 males and 45 females, from 5 to 19 years old).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The narrowest prediction intervals among the multivariate regression models were 19.63 for bone age and 2.99 for forensic age. There was no significant difference between form space and shape space in the bone and forensic age estimation models. However, for gender comparison, the bone and forensic age estimation models for males had the higher explanatory power.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study derived an improved objective and quantitative method for bone and forensic age estimation based on only the 2nd, 3rd and 4th cervical vertebral shapes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Dental Research Institute, Pusan National University Dental Hospital, Yangsan, South Korea.
authors.forename: Chang-Hoon
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Rhee
authors.affiliation: Department of Statistics, College of Natural Sciences, Pusan National University Dental Hospital, Yangsan, South Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Statistics, College of Natural Sciences, Pusan National University Dental Hospital, Yangsan, South Korea.
authors.forename: Yong-Seok
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Showa University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Tetsutaro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Showa University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Koutaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maki
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Dental Research Institute, Pusan National University Dental Hospital, Yangsan, South Korea; Department of Orthodontics, Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, South Korea. Electronic address: kimyongil@pusan.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Yong-Il
authors.initials: YI
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Dental Research Institute, Pusan National University Dental Hospital, Yangsan, South Korea.
authors.forename: Seong-Sik
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Dental Research Institute, Pusan National University Dental Hospital, Yangsan, South Korea.
authors.forename: Soo-Byung
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Dental Research Institute, Pusan National University Dental Hospital, Yangsan, South Korea. Electronic address: wsson@pusan.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Woo-Sung
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Son
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000365:Age Determination by Skeleton / Q000379:methods*; D044466:Asian People; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; D005260:Female; D018732:Forensic Anthropology; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D015233:Models, Statistical; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Bone age; Estimation; Forensic anthropology population data; Japanese population; Shape analysis