Exploring optimal methods for age-at-death estimation using pulp/tooth area ratios: a South African study.

IF 2.2 3区 医学 Q1 MEDICINE, LEGAL
Daniël Kotze, Calvin G Mole, Vincent M Phillips, Victoria E Gibbon
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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Age-at-death estimation is pivotal in the identification of unknown human decedents in forensic medicine. The pulp/tooth area ratio (PAR) method, assessing pulp cavity size as a marker of secondary dentine apposition, is widely utilised for adult age estimation. Despite extensive evaluation of this technique, the influence of image type and enamel area inclusion on method accuracy is insufficiently explored. The present study evaluated the PAR method's applicability using maxillary canines from a South African cadaveric sample, examining reliability, sex bias, and accuracy across different image types and enamel area considerations. An observational, cross-sectional study design was followed. Fifty-two adult maxillary canines were radiographed, sectioned, and analysed using stereomicroscopy. Labiolingual and mesiodistal periapical radiographs, alongside labiolingual stereomicroscopic tooth section images, were analysed using ImageJ to calculate PARs. Age estimation linear regression models were developed for each image type, with and without enamel area inclusion. Models were compared for performance and accuracy using best-subsets regression and cross-validation analyses. Results indicated that the PAR method is a reliable, sex-independent technique, providing relatively accurate age-at-death estimates for South African adults. Image type significantly influenced accuracy, with tooth section images exhibiting the best/lowest error values, followed by labiolingual and mesiodistal radiographs, respectively. Exclusion of enamel area consistently enhanced model performance across all image types. This study contributes valuable data to the underexplored field of dental age estimation techniques for South African adults, highlighting optimal approaches when applying the PAR method to maxillary canines. Additionally, it introduces a refined stereomicroscopic technique, augmenting and enhancing existing practices.

探索利用牙髓/牙齿面积比估算死亡年龄的最佳方法:南非的一项研究。
在法医学中,死亡年龄估计是鉴定未知死者身份的关键。牙髓/牙齿面积比(PAR)方法将评估牙髓腔大小作为继发性牙本质附着的标志,被广泛用于成人年龄估计。尽管对该技术进行了广泛的评估,但对图像类型和包含的釉质面积对方法准确性的影响还没有进行充分的探讨。本研究使用南非尸体样本中的上颌犬齿对 PAR 方法的适用性进行了评估,考察了不同图像类型和釉质面积的可靠性、性别偏差和准确性。本研究采用观察性横断面研究设计。对 52 颗成人上颌犬齿进行了射线照相、切片,并使用体视显微镜进行了分析。使用 ImageJ 分析唇侧和牙中侧根尖周放射线照片以及唇侧立体显微镜牙齿切片图像,计算 PARs。针对每种图像类型,分别建立了包含和不包含釉质面积的年龄估计线性回归模型。使用最佳子集回归和交叉验证分析比较了模型的性能和准确性。结果表明,PAR 方法是一种可靠的、与性别无关的技术,能为南非成年人提供相对准确的死亡年龄估计。图像类型对准确性有很大影响,牙齿切面图像的误差值最佳/最低,其次分别是唇侧和齿中X光片。在所有图像类型中,剔除釉质区域始终能提高模型性能。这项研究为南非成人牙科年龄估计技术这一探索不足的领域提供了宝贵的数据,突出了将 PAR 方法应用于上颌犬齿时的最佳方法。此外,它还介绍了一种改进的体视显微镜技术,以加强和改进现有的实践。
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来源期刊
CiteScore
5.80
自引率
9.50%
发文量
165
审稿时长
1 months
期刊介绍: The International Journal of Legal Medicine aims to improve the scientific resources used in the elucidation of crime and related forensic applications at a high level of evidential proof. The journal offers review articles tracing development in specific areas, with up-to-date analysis; original articles discussing significant recent research results; case reports describing interesting and exceptional examples; population data; letters to the editors; and technical notes, which appear in a section originally created for rapid publication of data in the dynamic field of DNA analysis.
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