Cranial sutures as an age indicator: verification of the method using postmortem CT acquisition material

Area of Science:

• Forensic Anthropology
• Radiology
• Human Osteology

Background:

• Accurate age estimation is crucial for identifying unidentified human remains.
• Adult age estimation relies on degenerative changes, with cranial suture assessment being controversial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the reliability and usefulness of cranial suture closure for forensic age estimation in adult males.

Main Methods:

• Postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) scans of 114 male skulls were analyzed.
• Multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) and volume rendering technique (VRT) visualized suture closure.
• Broca's suture closure scale assessed coronal, sagittal, and lambdoid sutures.

Main Results:

• Cranial suture assessment typically provides broad age ranges.
• Lambdoid suture closure demonstrated minimal age-related correlation, except for a specific ectocranial part.

Conclusions:

• Cranial suture assessment, particularly the lambdoid suture, has limited importance for forensic age estimation.
• This method's reliability is questionable in forensic anthropology.