Testing the London atlas for age estimation in Thai population

Using the lumbar vertebra for age estimation is helpful in cases when skeletal remains are incomplete and typical skeletal age indicators are absent. This study aimed to apply an image analysis method in extracting black pixel variables for age estimation by using the radiographic images of lumbar vertebra in a Thai population. All lumbar vertebrae L1–L5 of 220 (110 males and 110 females) from Thai individuals of known sex and ages were studied. The variables of Total Percentage of black pixels (TP), Mean Percentage of black pixels (MP), and Ratio of black to white pixels (BW), were calculated to assess the relationship between black pixel variables and aging. Equations were formulated using linear regression analysis. The results of this study indicated three variables of the lumbar vertebrae had significantly positive correlations with age. The correlation between parameters with age in males ranged 0.211–0.419, while the range in females was 0.219–0.458. The appropriate linear regression equation with the total and mean percentages of black pixel variables shows Age = −1.348+0.871 (TP) +0.514 (MP) of L4 for males (SEE; 15.4 years), and Age = 5.338 +0.316 (TP) +0.952 (MP) of L1 for females (SEE; 13.8 years). Age estimation using an image analysis method is an alternative to investigating the trabecular structure. The black pixel variable is not the actual value of bone density. However, it is useful to study its relationship with aging.

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Age Estimation from Computed Tomography of Cranial Suture Closure in a Thai Population

Medicine & Health ◽

10.17576/mh.2020.1502.24 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 15 (2) ◽

pp. 276-289

Author(s):

Pasuk Mahakkanukrauh ◽

Keyword(s):

Computed Tomography ◽

Age Estimation ◽

Ct Images ◽

Ct Image ◽

Cranial Suture ◽

Thai Population ◽

Age Related ◽

Fundamental Information ◽

Starting Point ◽

Suture Closure

Age estimation from human skeletal remains is an important step to reconstruct a biological profile. Cranial suture has long been studied for its age-related closure. However, until now, forensic anthropologists still attempt to investigate the best way of estimating age at death from cranial suture closure because skull is usually found at the crime scene due to its easy recognised-appearance and persistence to post-mortem insults. For these reasons, a study of age estimation from cranial suture closure in a Thai population was conducted, which focussed to study the appearance and visibility of facial suture closure using computed tomography (CT). CT image series of 140 cases were obtained in order to investigate ectocranial closure of the selected facial sutures. The results from CT image analysis revealed that nasomaxillary provided the most consistent examination of suture closure (52%) while frontonasal delivered the lowest consistency in suture closure examination (29%). The inconsistency mostly occurred in assigning the closure score of 1 and 2. Thus, it could be suggested that a 3-scale scoring system of closure: open, closing, and closed, could be an appropriate method of evaluating degree of ectocranial closure of facial sutures obtained from CT imaging. This fundamental information of facial suture closure from CT images could serve as a starting point on development of age estimation technique from suture closure by utilising CT images.

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Age Estimation using Aorta Image Analysis in the Thai Population

Sains Malaysiana ◽

10.17576/jsm-2021-5002-13 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 50 (2) ◽

pp. 419-428

Author(s):

Pornhatai Komutrattananont ◽

Treerat Gumpangseth ◽

Parison Palee ◽

Sukon Prasitwattanaseree ◽

Norzana Abd Ghafar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Image Analysis ◽

Standard Error ◽

Age Estimation ◽

Structural Changes ◽

Ascending Aorta ◽

Morphometric Parameters ◽

Thai Population ◽

Horizontal Diameter ◽

Analysis Programme ◽

Outer Circumference

The current technology used in imaging has an increasing role in medical education. The concept of using an image analysis programme to help in estimating the age of the aorta, the largest artery, can be clearly seen to be of use, especially in establishing age changes for the identification of individuals. The purposes of the study were to investigate gross morphology, morphometric parameters, and the correlation between parameters with age of the aorta in human cadavers by using an image analysis programme. A total of 244 specimens were dissected from 4 locations of 61 human aortas from donour and autopsy cadavers with an age range of 20 to 90 years. The morphometric parameters included outer circumference, inner circumference, aortic diameter, and average thickness of all locations of the aorta. These were defined and measured by using the image analysis programme. The results of this study showed that the outer circumference (r=0.808-0.739), inner circumference (r=0.763-0.682), vertical diameter of the aorta (r=0.628-0.524) and horizontal diameter of the aorta (r=0.808-0.396) showed a significant correlation with age in all areas of the aorta. In the ascending aorta, the correlation between the outer circumference, horizontal diameter and age were higher than other variables and areas. The age equation established pertinent to the outer circumference (OC) in the ascending aorta was age = -61.648+ (1.141(OC)) with a standard error of ± 12.45 years. The age prediction equation for the horizontal diameter (HD) in the ascending aorta was age = -35.799+ (4.134(HD)) and a standard error of ± 12.43 years. In conclusion, knowledge of the structural changes associated with age can be used for age estimation in forensic anthropology.

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Classification and Morphometric Features of Pterion in Thai Population with Potential Sex Prediction

Medicina ◽

10.3390/medicina57111282 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 57 (11) ◽

pp. 1282

Author(s):

Nongnut Uabundit ◽

Arada Chaiyamoon ◽

Sitthichai Iamsaard ◽

Laphatrada Yurasakpong ◽

Chanin Nantasenamat ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Machine Learning ◽

Age Estimation ◽

Brain Lesion ◽

Mastoid Process ◽

Morphometric Measurements ◽

Thai Population ◽

Anatomical Studies ◽

Anterior Aspect ◽

Morphometric Features ◽

Males And Females

Background and Objectives: The landmark for neurosurgical approaches to access brain lesion is the pterion. The aim of the present study is to classify and examine the prevalence of all types of pterion variations and perform morphometric measurements from previously defined anthropological landmarks. Materials and methods: One-hundred and twenty-four Thai dried skulls were investigated. Classification and morphometric measurement of the pterion was performed. Machine learning models were also used to interpret the morphometric findings with respect to sex and age estimation. Results: Spheno-parietal type was the most common type (62.1%), followed by epipteric (11.7%), fronto-temporal (5.2%) and stellate (1.2%). Complete synostosis of the pterion suture was present in 18.5% and was only present in males. While most morphometric measurements were similar between males and females, the distances from the pterion center to the mastoid process and to the external occipital protuberance were longer in males. Random forest algorithm could predict sex with 80.7% accuracy (root mean square error = 0.38) when the pterion morphometric data were provided. Correlational analysis indicated that the distances from the pterion center to the anterior aspect of the frontozygomatic suture and to the zygomatic angle were positively correlated with age, which may serve as basis for age estimation in the future. Conclusions: Further studies are needed to explore the use of machine learning in anatomical studies and morphometry-based sex and age estimation. Thorough understanding of the anatomy of the pterion is clinically useful when planning pterional craniotomy, particularly when the position of the pterion may change with age.

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