From the Department of Radiology, Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Medicine, Izmir.
Department of Forensic Medicine, Manisa, Turkey.
Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 2021 Mar 1;42(1):36-41. doi: 10.1097/PAF.0000000000000636.
The aim of the study was to investigate whether the skeletal age can be evaluated assessed by means of analysis of ossification stage at proximal humeral epiphysis using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
This retrospective study was carried out in the radiology department of a tertiary healthcare center and 1.5-T MRI views of the shoulder obtained from 203 patients aged 8 to 29 years were evaluated. The ossification stage of proximal humeral epiphysis was evaluated on T1-weighted MRI sequences, and its correlation with age was sought.
Our series consisted of 77 women (37.9%) and 126 men (62.1%). One hundred forty-seven right humerus (72.4%) and 56 (27.6%) left humerus were examined. The mean age of the patients was 20.60 ± 4.41 years. The patients were in stages 4 (n = 148, 72.9%), 3c (n = 18, 8.9%), 3b (n = 14, 6.9%), 2c (n = 13, 6.4%), and 3a (n = 10, 4.9%). Analysis of the relationship between age and ossification stage of proximal humerus epiphysis indicated that stage increased with the advancement of age. There was a significant correlation between the stage and age variables at a rate of 77% in the positive direction (P < 0.001).
Our results demonstrated that MRI of proximal humeral epiphysis can have valuable implications for estimation of the skeletal age. Future prospective studies must be implemented with patients grouped according to socioeconomic status, nutritional habits, and physical activities to explore the actual investigative potential of MRI.
本研究旨在探讨通过磁共振成像（MRI）分析肱骨头骨骺的骨化阶段是否可以评估骨骼年龄。
这是一项在三级保健中心放射科进行的回顾性研究，评估了 203 名 8 至 29 岁患者的 1.5-T MRI 肩部图像。在 T1 加权 MRI 序列上评估肱骨头骨骺的骨化阶段，并寻求其与年龄的相关性。
我们的系列包括 77 名女性（37.9%）和 126 名男性（62.1%）。检查了 147 个右侧肱骨（72.4%）和 56 个左侧肱骨（27.6%）。患者的平均年龄为 20.60 ± 4.41 岁。患者处于 4 期（n = 148，72.9%）、3c 期（n = 18，8.9%）、3b 期（n = 14，6.9%）、2c 期（n = 13，6.4%）和 3a 期（n = 10，4.9%）。分析年龄与肱骨头骨骺骨化阶段之间的关系表明，随着年龄的增长，阶段逐渐增加。阶段和年龄变量之间存在显著的正相关（P <0.001），相关率为 77%。
我们的结果表明，肱骨头骨骺的 MRI 对估计骨骼年龄具有重要意义。未来必须实施前瞻性研究，将患者按照社会经济地位、营养习惯和体育活动进行分组，以探索 MRI 的实际研究潜力。
