Jannick De Tobel1,2,3,4, Mayonne van Wijk5, Ivo Alberink5, Elke Hillewig6, Inès Phlypo7, Rick R van Rijn8, Patrick Werner Thevissen9, Koenraad Luc Verstraete6, Michiel Bart de Haas5. 1. Department of Diagnostic Sciences - Radiology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. jannick.detobel@ugent.be. 2. Department of Imaging and Pathology - Forensic Odontology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. jannick.detobel@ugent.be. 3. Department of Oral Diseases and Maxillofacial Surgery, Maastricht UMC+, Maastricht, The Netherlands. jannick.detobel@ugent.be. 4. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Leuven University Hospitals, Leuven, Belgium. jannick.detobel@ugent.be. 5. Division of Special Services and Expertise, Section of Forensic Anthropology, Netherlands Forensic Institute, The Hague, The Netherlands. 6. Department of Diagnostic Sciences - Radiology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. 7. Department of Oral Health Sciences - Special Needs in Dentistry, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. 8. Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 9. Department of Imaging and Pathology - Forensic Odontology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To determine how motion affects stage allocation to the clavicle's sternal end on MRI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighteen volunteers (9 females, 9 males) between 14 and 30 years old were prospectively scanned with 3-T MRI. One resting-state scan was followed by five intentional motion scans. Additionally, a control group of 72 resting-state scans were selected from previous research. Firstly, six observers allocated developmental stages to the clavicles independently. Secondly, they re-assessed the images, allocating developmental statuses (immature, mature). Finally, the resting-state scans of the 18 volunteers were assessed in consensus to decide on the "correct" stage/status. Results were compared between groups (control, prospective resting state, prospective motion), and between staging techniques (stages/statuses). RESULTS: Inter-observer agreement was low (Krippendorff α 0.23-0.67). The proportion of correctly allocated stages (64%) was lower than correctly allocated statuses (83%). Overall, intentional motion resulted in fewer assessable images and less images of sufficient evidential value. The proportion of correctly allocated stages did not differ between resting-state (64%) and motion scans (65%), while correctly allocated statuses were more prevalent in resting-state scans (83% versus 77%). Remarkably, motion scans did not render a systematically higher or lower stage/status, compared to the consensus. CONCLUSION: Intentional motion impedes clavicle MRI for age estimation. Still, in case of obvious disturbances, the forensic expert will consider the MRI unsuitable as evidence. Thus, the development of the clavicle as such and the staging technique seem to play a more important role in allocating a faulty stage for age estimation.
PURPOSE: To determine how motion affects stage allocation to the clavicle's sternal end on MRI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighteen volunteers (9 females, 9 males) between 14 and 30 years old were prospectively scanned with 3-T MRI. One resting-state scan was followed by five intentional motion scans. Additionally, a control group of 72 resting-state scans were selected from previous research. Firstly, six observers allocated developmental stages to the clavicles independently. Secondly, they re-assessed the images, allocating developmental statuses (immature, mature). Finally, the resting-state scans of the 18 volunteers were assessed in consensus to decide on the "correct" stage/status. Results were compared between groups (control, prospective resting state, prospective motion), and between staging techniques (stages/statuses). RESULTS: Inter-observer agreement was low (Krippendorff α 0.23-0.67). The proportion of correctly allocated stages (64%) was lower than correctly allocated statuses (83%). Overall, intentional motion resulted in fewer assessable images and less images of sufficient evidential value. The proportion of correctly allocated stages did not differ between resting-state (64%) and motion scans (65%), while correctly allocated statuses were more prevalent in resting-state scans (83% versus 77%). Remarkably, motion scans did not render a systematically higher or lower stage/status, compared to the consensus. CONCLUSION: Intentional motion impedes clavicle MRI for age estimation. Still, in case of obvious disturbances, the forensic expert will consider the MRI unsuitable as evidence. Thus, the development of the clavicle as such and the staging technique seem to play a more important role in allocating a faulty stage for age estimation.
Keywords:
Age determination by skeleton; Clavicle; Magnetic resonance imaging; Motion artefact
Authors: Daniel Wittschieber; Ronald Schulz; Volker Vieth; Martin Küppers; Thomas Bajanowski; Frank Ramsthaler; Klaus Püschel; Heidi Pfeiffer; Sven Schmidt; Andreas Schmeling Journal: Forensic Sci Med Pathol Date: 2013-11-26 Impact factor: 2.007
Authors: Selma Uysal Ramadan; Murat Serdar Gurses; Nursel Turkmen Inanir; Cigdem Hacifazlioglu; Recep Fedakar; Samil Hizli Journal: Leg Med (Tokyo) Date: 2016-12-30 Impact factor: 1.376
Authors: E Hillewig; J Degroote; T Van der Paelt; A Visscher; P Vandemaele; B Lutin; L D'Hooghe; V Vandriessche; M Piette; K Verstraete Journal: Int J Legal Med Date: 2012-12-09 Impact factor: 2.686