Forensic age estimation in living individuals by 1.5T magnetic resonance imaging of the knee: A retrospective MRI study

Abstract

Our aim is to analyse proximal tibial epiphysis and distal femoral epiphysis patterns according to the Dedouit staging method using 1.5 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with fast spin echo (FSE) for proton density images. In addition, we discuss the results in relation to the literature for forensic age estimation. In this study, images belonging to 195 female and 277 male patients ranging in age from 10 to 30 years who had a knee MRI for any reason in our Radiology Clinic between January 2014 and December 2016 were retrospectively evaluated. According to the Dedouit et al. five-stage method, they were evaluated by two radiologists. The kappa value was calculated for intra-observer and inter-observer compliance. The evaluation of knee epiphysis patterns from MRI is an alternative, efficient, radiation-free and non-invasive method that is helpful in forensic age estimation. In particular, stage 5 in distal femoral epiphysis can determine the 21st year of life in both sexes, and proximal tibial epiphysis could present evidence of age 18 in males. It should be used for evaluation in addition to other methods for determining skeletal system maturity.