Radiographic Identification Using Midline Medical Sternotomy Wires,

Forensic anthropologists are regularly asked to assist with the identification of unknown individuals using comparative medical radiography. This study addressed the use of midline medical sternotomy wires as a means for personal identification. Antemortem and postmortem radiographic comparisons were completed by 46 professional forensic anthropologists and anthropology graduate students familiar with comparative medical radiography as a technique for assessing identification. Participants were asked to make five radiographic matches from a pool of 20 radiographs. Participants also completed an anonymous survey detailing their education level and experience making radiographic comparisons. Participants were 99.5% accurate in matching the radiographs. Sensitivity was 98.7%, and specificity was 99.7%. Logistic regression analysis found no statistically significant differences in the participants' ability to make a correct match. As the high accuracy rates indicate, the shape, size, and various characteristics of the sternotomy wires are individualizing and can confidently be used when assisting with personal identification cases.     

A Comparison Between Digital Radiography,Computed Tomography,and Magnetic Resonance in the Detection of Gunshot Residues in Burnt Tissues and Bone

The radiological search for GSR is crucial in burnt material although it has been rarely tested. In this study, thirty‐one bovine ribs were shot at near‐contact range and burnt to calcination in an oven simulating a real combustion. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) were performed before and after carbonization and compared with former analyses with DR (digital radiography); thus comparing the assistance, the radiological methods can provide in the search for GSR in fresh and burnt bone. DR demonstrated the greatest ability in the detection of metallic residues, CT showed lower abilities, while MR showed a high sensitivity only in soft tissues. Thus, DR can be considered as the most sensitive method in the detection of GSR in charred bones, whereas CT and MR demonstrated much less reliability. Nonetheless, the MR ameliorates the analysis of gunshot wounds in other types of remains with large quantities of soft tissues.     

Root Morphology and Anatomical Patterns in Forensic Dental Identification: A Comparison of Computer‐Aided Identification with Traditional Forensic Dental Identification*

Abstract: An online forensic dental identification exercise was conducted involving 24 antemortem–postmortem (AM–PM) dental radiograph pairs from actual forensic identification cases. Images had been digitally cropped to remove coronal tooth structure and dental restorations. Volunteer forensic odontologists were passively recruited to compare the AM–PM dental radiographs online and conclude identification status using the guidelines for identification from the American Board of Forensic Odontology. The mean accuracy rate for identification was 86.0% (standard deviation 9.2%). The same radiograph pairs were compared using a digital imaging software algorithm, which generated a normalized coefficient of similarity for each pair. Twenty of the radiograph pairs generated a mean accuracy of 85.0%. Four of the pairs could not be used to generate a coefficient of similarity. Receiver operator curve and area under the curve statistical analysis confirmed good discrimination abilities of both methods (online exercise = 0.978; UT‐ID index = 0.923) and Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient analysis (0.683) indicated good correlation between the results of both methods. Computer‐aided dental identification allows for an objective comparison of AM–PM radiographs and can be a useful tool to support a forensic dental identification conclusion.     

Secular Trend in the Development of Permanent Teeth in a Population of Istria and the Littoral Region of Croatia

The study evaluated secular trends in dental development during a period of 30 years, correlation between dental and chronological age in Istria and the littoral region of Croatia. The sample consisted of 1000 panoramic radiographs of children, aged 6–16 years (mean 10.0 ± 1.8), taken in the period 1977–1979 (N = 500; 243 females) and 2007–2009 (N = 500; 299 females). Dental age was assessed according to Demirjian's method. Correlation between chronological and dental age was linear, positive, high, and statistically significant in both periods and genders, ranging from 0.73 to 0.86. Dental age was underestimated when compared to chronological age by 1 year on average, more 30 years ago (?1.35 ± 1.17) than today (?0.63 ± 1.09), less for girls (?0.80 ± 1.22) than boys (?1.21 ± 1.10). A statistically significant positive secular trend in acceleration of dental development was present of 0.72 years during the 30‐year period and was more significant in girls than boys (0.83‐ and 0.51‐year acceleration).     

活体跟骨数字X线片性别判定

目的应用数字X线摄影方法测量跟骨,评估5项测量指标在法医学性别判定中的价值。方法393例受试对象随机分组,实验组334例(男性148例,女性186例),验证组59例(男性26例,女性33例)。每一受试对象按照规定投照方法摄跟骨侧位DR片,分别测量5项跟骨长度指标。方差分析检验实验组各项指标性别间差异,Fisher判别分析及多元逐步判别分析建立性别判别函数。验证组样本数据回代,前瞻性评估判别效能。结果5项指标性别差异有统计学意义(P<0.001)。共建立了6组性别判别函数,性别判断正确率在78.4%～88.9%之间;回代检验,判断正确率在79.7%～86.4%之间。结论跟骨侧位数字X线片5项长度测量指标代入判别函数进行性别判定的方法可为法医学个人识别中的性别判定提供帮助。     

应用下颌第三磨牙建立中国汉族18岁评估模型

目的探讨第三磨牙在活体年龄推断中的价值,评估第三磨牙能否作为18岁年龄节点的判断指标。方法应用Orhan改良的Demirjian分级标准对1 845例10~30岁个体的下颌第三磨牙分级并赋分,对性别差异进行t检验,建立第三磨牙推断年龄的三次回归模型。同时绘制各等级年龄累积分布图和ROC曲线评估第三磨牙与18岁间相关性,建立18岁Bayes判别分析方程。结果评估者内可信度为0.903。年龄与等级间呈中等相关。D、H等级存在两性差异(P0.05),余各等级均无性别差异。男性等级1~D,女性等级1~C均小于18岁;男女性等级H均大于18岁。ROC曲线下面积为0.797(P0.05)。结论第三磨牙等级与年龄间有较高的相关性,可用于18岁年龄节点的推断,但仍应结合其他指标相互印证协同鉴定。     

Forensic age estimation on digital X-ray images: Medial epiphyses of the clavicle and first rib ossification in relation to chronological age

In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in forensic sciences about forensic age estimation in living subjects by means of radiological methods. This research was conducted on digital thorax X-rays to test the usefulness of some radiological changes in the clavicle and first rib. The sample consisted in a total of 123 subjects of Spanish origin (61 men and 62 women; age range: 5-75 years). From all subjects, a thorax posterior-anterior radiograph was obtained in digital format. Scoring for fusion of medial epiphyses of the clavicle was carried out by Schmeling's system and ossification of the costal cartilage of the first rib by Michelson's system. Degree of ossification and epiphyseal fusion were analyzed in relation with known age and sex of these subjects. The results give a minimum age of >20 years for full fusion of the medial epiphysis of the clavicle (Stages 4 and 5). Concerning the first rib, all subjects with the final Stage 3 of ossification were above 25 years of age. These results suggest that the first rib ossification might become an additional method to the ones so far recommended for forensic age estimation in subjects around 21. New research would be desirable to confirm this suggestion.     

应用放射影像技术进行牙龄推断

牙龄是年龄推断的重要方法之一，国外学者常将其与骨龄联合应用以提高年龄推断的准确性，但国内尚未普遍开展。大量研究表明，应用放射影像学这一无创的检查手段，可以准确观察牙齿的增龄性变化，如牙冠与牙根的发育程度、牙髓腔的变化等。目前应用放射影像学进行牙龄推断的主要方法有Gleiser和Hunt法、Demirjian法及牙髓腔测量法等。其中Demirjian法的准确性最高，但在推断法定敏感年龄时尚存在局限性。随着放射影像学的发展，尤其是CT的出现，依赖其高分辨率以及相匹配的测量软件，可提高牙龄推断的准确性与可靠性，有望成为今后推断活体年龄的重要手段。     

额窦数字X线影像分型与同一认定指标的筛选

目的 从法医学同一认定的视角探究柯氏位额窦计算机X线摄影(computer radiography,CR)的形态学分类,并结合识别指标的数字编码,构建X线影像同一认定体系.方法 收集 400例四川汉族成年人额窦标准柯氏位CR片.以两侧眼眶上缘均相切的直线与额窦的位置关系对额窦形态学特征进行分型研究,并对额窦识别指标进行数字编码.结果 提出额窦CR片影像学特征6类分型,筛选出额窦不对称性、最大额窦面积的侧别、同侧额窦面积与眼眶面积比、额窦上缘弓形弯曲数、额窦部分分隔位置、额窦中间隔位置等8项识别指标.结论 提出了先作分型鉴别,再用所选取的8项指标对额窦形态进行识别编码的柯氏位额窦CR片影像同一认定的新思路.