Buckley Mary B, Clark Kevin R
Radiol Technol. 2017 May;88(5):482-498.
To discuss current literature evaluating the medial clavicular epiphysis to assess an individual's age using various imaging modalities.
Four scholarly research databases were searched to find studies that examined living subjects. Several articles were included that used cadavers, and a textbook was used to detail the anatomy of the clavicle. Thirty-nine articles were analyzed.
The literature indicated that several imaging modalities, including conventional radiography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance, and sonography, are being used to evaluate the medial clavicular epiphysis to estimate an individual's age in the forensic context. In addition to multiple modalities, researchers are using various staging classification systems, ethnic groups, and interpreter criteria to establish reference data.
There is a need to determine the age of individuals involved in civil and criminal proceedings who do not have valid birth date documentation. The clavicle is the last bone in the human body to complete fusion. The clavicle begins to fuse in the early teens and completes medial epiphyseal fusion in the late 20s. Clavicle fusion spans the legally significant age range of 18 through 21. Multiple variables influence the final age estimation, including interpreters' experience, the individual's socioeconomic class or area of origin, and limitations within the imaging modalities.
Computed tomography is the modality of choice for forensic age estimation using the medial clavicular epiphysis. Radiologic technologists should be cognizant of current forensic age estimation practices, and future research should continue to provide reference data to improve accuracy of age estimation in those individuals who lack documentation of their date of birth.
探讨当前利用各种成像方式评估内侧锁骨骨骺以确定个体年龄的文献。
检索了四个学术研究数据库以查找研究活体受试者的研究。纳入了几篇使用尸体的文章，并使用一本教科书详细介绍了锁骨的解剖结构。分析了39篇文章。
文献表明，包括传统放射摄影、计算机断层扫描、磁共振成像和超声检查在内的几种成像方式正在被用于评估内侧锁骨骨骺，以便在法医背景下估计个体的年龄。除了多种成像方式外，研究人员还在使用各种分期分类系统、种族群体和解读标准来建立参考数据。
在民事和刑事诉讼中，需要确定那些没有有效出生日期文件的个体的年龄。锁骨是人体最后完成融合的骨骼。锁骨在青少年早期开始融合，并在20多岁后期完成内侧骨骺融合。锁骨融合跨越了18岁至21岁这个具有法律意义的年龄范围。多个变量会影响最终的年龄估计，包括解读人员的经验、个体的社会经济阶层或出生地以及成像方式的局限性。
计算机断层扫描是利用内侧锁骨骨骺进行法医年龄估计的首选方式。放射技师应了解当前的法医年龄估计方法，未来的研究应继续提供参考数据，以提高那些没有出生日期文件的个体年龄估计的准确性。
