Apophyseal Ossification of the Iliac Crest in Forensic Age Estimation: Computed Tomography Standards for Modern Australian Subadults

摘要

This study contrasts the ontogeny of the iliac crest apophysis using conventional radiography and multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT), providing probabilistic information for age estimation of modern Australian subadults. Retrospective abdomino-pelvic MSCT data acquired from 524 Australian individuals aged 7-25 years and surveillance radiographs of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients included in the Paediatric Spine Research Group progression study (n=531) were assessed. Ossification scoring of pseudo-radiographs and three-dimensional (3D) volume rendered reconstructions using Risser (1958) quantitative descriptors indicate discrepancies in age estimates, stage allocation and conflicting morphological progression. To mitigate visualization limitations associated with two-dimensional radiographs, we provide and validate a modified 3D-MSCT scoring-tier of ossification, demonstrating complete fusion between 17.3–19.2 and 17.1–20.1 years in males and females. Legal demarcation for doli incapax presumption and age of majority (18 years) can be achieved using probability estimates from a fitted cumulative probit model for apophyseal fusion using the recalibrated standards.