Volume 54, Issue 4 pp. 773-778

Age at Death Estimation Using Multislice Computed Tomography Reconstructions of the Posterior Pelvis*

Pierre Barrier M.D.

Pierre Barrier M.D.

Service de Radiologie Générale, Hôpital de Rangueil, Avenue du Professeur Jean Poulhès, 31403 Toulouse Cedex 4, France.

Imagerie de Synthèse en Anthropobiologie, Université Paul Sabatier, FRE 2960 CNRS, 37 allées J Guesde, 31000 Toulouse, France.

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Fabrice Dedouit M.D.

Fabrice Dedouit M.D.

Service de Radiologie Générale, Hôpital de Rangueil, Avenue du Professeur Jean Poulhès, 31403 Toulouse Cedex 4, France.

Imagerie de Synthèse en Anthropobiologie, Université Paul Sabatier, FRE 2960 CNRS, 37 allées J Guesde, 31000 Toulouse, France.

Service de Médecine Légale, Hôpital de Rangueil, Avenue du Professeur Jean Poulhès, 31403 Toulouse Cedex 4, France.

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José Braga Ph.D.

José Braga Ph.D.

Imagerie de Synthèse en Anthropobiologie, Université Paul Sabatier, FRE 2960 CNRS, 37 allées J Guesde, 31000 Toulouse, France.

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Francis Joffre M.D., Ph.D.

Francis Joffre M.D., Ph.D.

Service de Radiologie Générale, Hôpital de Rangueil, Avenue du Professeur Jean Poulhès, 31403 Toulouse Cedex 4, France.

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Daniel Rougé M.D., Ph.D.

Daniel Rougé M.D., Ph.D.

Imagerie de Synthèse en Anthropobiologie, Université Paul Sabatier, FRE 2960 CNRS, 37 allées J Guesde, 31000 Toulouse, France.

Service de Médecine Légale, Hôpital de Rangueil, Avenue du Professeur Jean Poulhès, 31403 Toulouse Cedex 4, France.

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Hervé Rousseau M.D., Ph.D.

Hervé Rousseau M.D., Ph.D.

Service de Radiologie Générale, Hôpital de Rangueil, Avenue du Professeur Jean Poulhès, 31403 Toulouse Cedex 4, France.

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Norbert Telmon M.D., Ph.D.

Norbert Telmon M.D., Ph.D.

Imagerie de Synthèse en Anthropobiologie, Université Paul Sabatier, FRE 2960 CNRS, 37 allées J Guesde, 31000 Toulouse, France.

Service de Médecine Légale, Hôpital de Rangueil, Avenue du Professeur Jean Poulhès, 31403 Toulouse Cedex 4, France.

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First published: 23 June 2009
Citations: 54
Additional information and reprint requests:
Pierre Barrier, M.D.
Service de Radiologie Générale
Hôpital de Rangueil
Avenue du Professeur Jean Poulhès
31403 Toulouse Cedex 4
France
E-mail: [email protected]
*

Presented at the 60th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, February 18–23, 2008, in Washington, DC.

Abstract

Abstract: Thanks to recent advances, computed tomography is now seen as a tool of great value in the field of physical anthropology. In this study, we focused on the posterior pelvis and the auricular surface and evaluated the accuracy of 3D reconstructions of the auricular surface, using a methodology derived from a previous study by Lovejoy et al. We also looked for trabecular bone criteria expressing age-related changes. Forty-six coxal bones were scanned, and scoring of macroscopic criteria showed a good agreement between 3D reconstructions and photographs, especially for transverse organization (k = 0.90). The changes occurring in the posterior part of the sacropubic trabecular bundle were evaluated on CT reconstructions via three new criteria, which exhibited a good intra- and inter-observer agreement (k = 0.77–0.89), and were particularly useful in identifying older subjects. We concluded that these CT-evaluated trabecular bone criteria are promising and yield useful information about age at death.

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