Age estimation and sex determination from lumbar vertebral morphometry by magnetic resonance image (MRI)‎

Abstract EN

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Estimation of age and determination of sex are very important in forensic medicine.

The present study aimed to detect the reliability of age estimation and sex determination based on lumbar vertebral measurements of some Upper Egypt population.

METHODS: Evaluation of the lumbar indices in 121 cases (63 males, 58 females; 26 - 48 years old) was done.

For lumbar vertebrae (L2 and L4), anterior height, central height, posterior height and anteroposterior diameter measurements (Ha, Hc, Hp and D respectively) were performed by MRI.

These measurements were used to calculate the anterior wedge index (Ha / Hp), the biconcavity index (Hc / Hp) and the compression index (Hp / D).

RESULTS: The values of each of the three indices for both lumbar vertebrae of females were higher than those of the same vertebrae in males.

The Ha / Hp and Hc / Hp ra os were increased by increasing age for both L2 and L4 in males and females.

While, Hp/D decreased with age at L2 and L4 in females only.

Regarding to changes in these indices with age, in males for L2, the value of anterior wedge index (Ha / Hp) was statistically significant (p≤0.02) in males less than 40 years.

The biconcavity index (Hc /Hp) was highly statistically significant in males less and more than 40 years (p≤0.002, p≤0.003 respic vely).

For L4, only biconcavity index (Hc/ Hp) was statistically significant (p≤0.02) for all ages in males.

In females, the values of Ha/Hp ra o were not significant with all ages, while biconcavity index (Hc/Hp) was statistically significant (p≤0.01) for L2 only in females less than 40 years.

CONCLUSION: The key benefits associated with MR-based morphometry for lumbar vertebra may favor its application in estimation of age and differentiation of sex.

BACKGROUND AND AIM : Estimation of age and determination of sex are very important in forensic medicine.

The present study aimed to detect the reliability of age estimation and sex determination ased on lumbar vertebral measurements of some Upper Egypt population.

METHODS: Evaluation of the lumbar indices in 121 cases (63 males, 58 females; 26 - 48 years old) was done.

For lumbar vertebrae (L2 and L4), anterior height, central height, posterior height and anteroposterior diameter measurements (Ha, Hc, Hp and D respectively) were performed by MRI.

These measurements were used to calculate the anterior wedge index (Ha / Hp), the biconcavity index (Hc / Hp) and the compression index (Hp / D).

RESULTS: The values of each of the three indices for both lumbar vertebrae of females were higher than those of the same vertebrae in males.

The Ha/Hp and Hc/Hp ra os were increased by increasing age for both L2 and L4 in males and females.

While, Hp/D decreased with age at L2 and L4 in females only.

Regarding to changes in these indices with age, in males for L2, the value of anterior wedge index (Ha/Hp) was statistically significant (p≤0.02) in males less than 40 years.

The biconcavity index (Hc/Hp) was highly statistically significant in males less and more than 40 years (p≤0.002, p≤0.003 respic vely).

For L4, only biconcavity index (Hc/Hp) was statistically significant (p≤0.02) for all ages in males.

In females, the values of Ha/Hp ra o were not significant with all ages, while biconcavity index (Hc/Hp) was statistically significant (p≤0.01) for L2 only in females less than 40 years.

CONCLUSION: The key benefits associated with MR-based morphometry for lumbar vertebra may favor its application in estimation of age and differentiation of sex.