T2-weighted spoiled gradient echo MRI for forensic age estimation: a study on knee growth plates

Area of Science:

• Forensic Science
• Radiology
• Human Osteology

Background:

• Growth plate fusion is crucial for age estimation in forensic investigations.
• Non-ionizing imaging techniques like MRI are preferred for ethical and safety reasons in forensic casework.
• Assessing skeletal maturity aids in determining the age of living individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the growth plate closure process in distal femoral and proximal tibial epiphyses using MERGE MRI sequences.
• To provide age estimation data based on a new staging system for forensic applications.
• To assess the viability of MERGE MRI for forensic age estimation.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 559 patients (aged 8-25 years) with knee pain or trauma.
• MRI scans performed using a 1.5-T system with Multiple Echo Recombined Gradient Echo (MERGE) sequences.
• Evaluation of ossification stages by two observers using a novel staging system; observer agreement assessed with Cohen's κ test.

Main Results:

• High observer agreement (κ > 0.8) was achieved.
• Significant positive correlations found between patient age and ossification stages (p < 0.001).
• Established minimum age thresholds for specific epiphyseal fusion stages in both males and females.

Conclusions:

• The MERGE MRI sequence is a viable and ethical method for assessing skeletal maturity in living individuals.
• This study supports the application of MERGE MRI for forensic age estimation due to high observer agreement and consistency.
• Further research comparing different MRI sequences and diverse populations is recommended to enhance applicability.