Estimation of age from image processing of soft-Xray findings in Japanese male ribs

概要

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We analyzed ultra-soft X-ray images of trabecular parts of rib cancellous bone and formulated a tentative equation for age estimation. This report obtained the approval of the Ethics Committee, Kinki University School of Medicine. The materials were ribs (left 7th ribs) obtained from bodies of 300 males aged 20 years or above subjected to forensic autopsy. Ultrasoft X-ray films of trabecular parts of rib cancellous bone were prepared, and image analysis was performed by calculating the percentage of a unit area of the trabecular part occupied by trabeculae (bone density). By statistical analysis of the bone density, the following age estimation equation was obtained: Y=-0.921X+108.189 (Y: Estimated age, X: Observed bone density). When the age estimated using this equation was compared with the true age (reliability), it was within ±2 years in about 50%, within ±5 years in about 80%, and within ±8 years in about 95% of the subjects. These results suggest that this method is applicable to age estimation of bodies of unknown ages in practical forensic medicine.