The influence of slice thickness on assessment of clavicle ossification in forensic age diagnostics

Computed tomography scans originally obtained to assess the ossification status of the medial clavicular epiphyses of 40 live subjects for forensic age estimation purposes were analysed. From the data acquired we reconstructed images with slice thicknesses of 1, 3, 5 and 7 mm, and based on the classification of stages by Schmeling et al. (Int J Legal Med 118:5-8, 2004), we determined the ossification stage for each reconstructed slice thickness, separately for both sides. Of the 80 clavicular epiphysial plates examined, seven displayed slice-thickness-dependent differences at certain ossification stages. In one case a slice thickness of 1 mm led to a different diagnosis of the ossification stage than a slice thickness of 3 mm, in three cases the diagnoses differed between the slice thicknesses of 3 and of 5 mm, and in another three cases, between 5 and 7 mm. We therefore conclude that for age estimation purposes, the slice thickness should be 1 mm to ensure maximum accuracy and diagnostic reliability.