Magnetic resonance imaging of third molars in forensic age estimation: comparison of the Ghent and Graz protocols focusing on apical closure

Tobel, Jannick De; Parmentier, Griet; Phlypo, Inès; Descamps, Benedicte; Neyt, Sara; Velde, Wim Leon Van De; Politis, Constantinus; Verstraete, Koenraad; Thevissen, Patrick

doi:10.1007/s00414-018-1905-6

Cited by 16 publications

(15 citation statements)

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“…For other structures, pooling the data of different studies might address this issue, but before this is done, it needs to be ascertained whether or not it is safe to pool data obtained with different MR-sequences. After all, it has been demonstrated that age distributions within stages might differ between sequences for third molars [15] and for the left wrist (Fig. 2) [47].…”

Section: Study Populations and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Approachesmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…When measurements were made, the way of obtaining them should be described clearly. It was considered inappropriate to compare the age distributions within developmental stages based on MRI with those based on radiographs, since it has been demonstrated that imaging technique specific reference data are required [14][15][16][17][18][19].…”

Section: Types Of Interventionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, it remains unclear if data from an anatomical site can safely be pooled, when the MRI sequences are not identical. To date, only one study compared scanning protocols in the same individuals, but their sample was too small to draw strong conclusions [15].…”

Section: Risk Of Bias Assessmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Magnetic resonance imaging for forensic age estimation in living children and young adults: a systematic review

et al. 2020

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Background The use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in forensic age estimation has been explored extensively during the past decade.Objective To synthesize the available MRI data for forensic age estimation in living children and young adults, and to provide a comprehensive overview that can guide age estimation practice and future research.Materials and Methods MEDLINE, Embase and Web of Science were searched. Additionally, cited and citing articles and study registers were searched. Two authors independently selected articles, conducted data extraction, and assessed risk of bias. Study populations including living subjects up to 30 years were considered.Results Fifty-five studies were included in qualitative analysis and 33 in quantitative analysis. Most studies suffered from bias, including relatively small European (Caucasian) populations, varying MR-approaches and varying staging techniques. Therefore, pooling of the age distribution data was not appropriate.Reproducibility of staging was remarkably lower in clavicles than in any other anatomical structure. Age estimation performance was in line with the gold standard, which uses radiographs, with mean absolute errors ranging from 0.85 to 2.0 years. The proportion of correctly classified minors ranged from 65% to 91%. Multifactorial age estimation performed better than based on a single anatomical site. ConclusionMore multi-factorial age estimation studies are necessary, together with studies testing if the MRI data can safely be pooled. The current review results can guide future studies, help medical professionals to decide on the preferred approach for specific cases, and help judicial professionals to interpret the evidential value of age estimation results.

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Section: Study Populations and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Approachesmentioning

confidence: 96%

Section: Types Of Interventionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Magnetic resonance imaging for forensic age estimation in living children and young adults: a systematic review

et al. 2020

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“…19 Indeed, the only comparative study between MRI approaches of different centers concluded that MR-sequence-specific reference studies should be applied because the detection of small changing details such as the closing of the apex can be affected by MR-sequence parameters. 66 Similarly, De Tobel et al reported an inferior age estimation performance when the model based on wrist T1 turbo spin-echo MRI was applied to T1 volumetric interpolated breath-hold examination (VIBE) MRI data and vice versa. 14 The next step in MRI for age estimation appears to be studying if the MRI data from different groups can safely be merged.…”

Section: Magnetic Resonance Imagingmentioning

confidence: 98%

Dental and Skeletal Imaging in Forensic Age Estimation: Disparities in Current Approaches and the Continuing Search for Optimization

Tobel

Ottow

Widek

et al. 2020

Semin Musculoskelet Radiol

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Medical imaging for forensic age estimation in living adolescents and young adults continues to be controversial and a subject of discussion. Because age estimation based on medical imaging is well studied, it is the current gold standard. However, large disparities exist between the centers conducting age estimation, both between and within countries. This review provides an overview of the most common approaches applied in Europe, with case examples illustrating the differences in imaging modalities, in staging of development, and in statistical processing of the age data. Additionally, the review looks toward the future because several European research groups have intensified studies on age estimation, exploring four strategies for optimization: (1) increasing sample sizes of the reference populations, (2) combining single-site information into multifactorial information, (3) avoiding ionizing radiation, and (4) conducting a fully automated analysis.

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“…Parts of the study population have been included in earlier publications on SSA [23,24,27,[34][35][36][37]. All participants gave informed consent, and in minors, the parents also consented.…”

Section: Study Populationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multi-factorial age estimation: A Bayesian approach combining dental and skeletal magnetic resonance imaging

Tobel

Fieuws

Hillewig

et al. 2020

Forensic Science International

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To study age estimation performance of combined magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data of all four third molars, the left wrist and both clavicles in a reference population of females and males. To study the value of adding anthropometric and sexual maturation data.Materials and methods: Three Tesla MRI of the three anatomical sites was prospectively conducted from March 2012 to May 2017 in 14-to 26-year-old healthy Caucasian volunteers (160 females, 138 males). Development was assessed by allocating stages, anthropometric measurements were taken, and self-reported sexual maturation data were collected. All data was incorporated in a continuationratio model to estimate age, applying Bayes' rule to calculate point and interval predictions. Two performance aspects were studied: (1) accuracy and uncertainty of the point prediction, and (2) diagnostic ability to discern minors from adults (≥ 18 years).Results: Combining information from different anatomical sites decreased the mean absolute error (MAE) compared to incorporating only one site (P < 0.0001). By contrast, adding anthropometric and sexual maturation data did not further improve MAE (P = 0.11). In females, combining all three anatomical sites rendered a MAE equal to 1.41 years, a mean width of the 95% prediction intervals of 5.91 years, 93% correctly classified adults and 91% correctly classified minors. In males, the corresponding results were 1.36 years, 5.49 years, 94%, and 90%, respectively. Conclusion:All aspects of age estimation improve when multi-factorial MRI data of the three anatomical sites are incorporated. Anthropometric and sexual maturation data do not seem to add relevant information.

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Magnetic resonance imaging of third molars in forensic age estimation: comparison of the Ghent and Graz protocols focusing on apical closure

Abstract: Imaging modality-specific and MRI sequence-specific reference data are needed in age estimation. A higher in-plane resolution and a bite bar increase assessability of apical closure, whereas they do not affect stage allocation of assessable apices.

Cited by 16 publications

References 28 publications

Magnetic resonance imaging for forensic age estimation in living children and young adults: a systematic review

Magnetic resonance imaging for forensic age estimation in living children and young adults: a systematic review

Dental and Skeletal Imaging in Forensic Age Estimation: Disparities in Current Approaches and the Continuing Search for Optimization

Multi-factorial age estimation: A Bayesian approach combining dental and skeletal magnetic resonance imaging

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