Forensic age estimation in adults by pubic bone mineral density using multidetector computed tomography.

Area of Science:

• Forensic Anthropology
• Radiology
• Osteology

Background:

• Morphological methods are standard for age estimation in forensic anthropology.
• Objective, quantitative methods for adult age estimation are needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility of using pubic bone mineral density (BMD) for age estimation in the Chinese population.
• To develop and validate mathematical models for age prediction based on pubic BMD.

Main Methods:

• Utilized CT scans of 468 pubic bones from living Chinese individuals (aged 18-87).
• Measured pubic BMD using Mimics software on cross-sectional CT images.
• Applied regression analysis to correlate pubic BMD with chronological age and validated models using Mean Absolute Error (MAE).

Main Results:

• Cubic regression models demonstrated the highest explanatory power (R²=0.550 for males, R²=0.634 for females).
• The best models yielded MAE values of 8.66 years for males and 7.69 years for females.
• Pubic BMD showed a significant correlation with chronological age in both genders.

Conclusions:

• Pubic bone mineral density is a promising objective indicator for adult age estimation.
• This method can serve as a valuable alternative in forensic anthropology, especially when other indicators are insufficient.