Application of the Iscan Method to Two‐ and Three‐Dimensional Imaging of the Sternal End of the Right Fourth Rib*
- 16 February 2008
- journal article
- Published by Wiley in Journal of Forensic Sciences
- Vol. 53 (2), 288-295
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1556-4029.2007.00642.x
Abstract
Age determination is a major field of interest in physical and forensic anthropology. Among the different methods based on macroscopic skeletal study, the Iscan method, which analyzes the sternal end of the right fourth rib, is one of the most reliable. We applied the Iscan method to two- and three-dimensional multislice computed tomography (MSCT) reconstructions of the sternal end of the right fourth rib on 39 ribs. The intra-observer variability on MSCT reconstructions was good (gamma coefficient equal to 0.86; value of the Krippendorff's alpha reliability equal to 0.79); inter-observer variability on MSCT reconstructions was also good (gamma coefficient ranging from 0.82 to 0.88; value of the Krippendorff's alpha reliability ranging from 0.78 to 0.86). We demonstrated excellent agreement between the results of analysis of bone samples and those of the two- and three-dimensional images, in particular regarding bone projections, morphology of the pit and of its rim. The accuracy of age estimation did not significantly differ between the Iscan method applied to dry bones and the same method applied to MSCT images. Determination of the Krippendorff's alpha reliability coefficient for the inter-error method confirmed the agreement between phase estimations obtained with the two methods (ranging from 0.55 to 0.71). The real civil age was comprised in 21 cases out of 36 for assessment performed on dry bones and in 23 cases out of 36 on MSCT reconstructions, which represented 58.3% and 63.9%, respectively. Use of MSCT reconstructions in forensic anthropology offers many advantages: no bone preparation, no damage to bone material, and the possibility of application to living individuals.Keywords
This publication has 6 references indexed in Scilit:
- Application of the Suchey-Brooks Method to Three-dimensional Imaging of the Pubic SymphysisJournal of Forensic Sciences, 2005
- Virtopsy, a New Imaging Horizon in Forensic Pathology: Virtual Autopsy by Postmortem Multislice Computed Tomography (MSCT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)—a Feasibility StudyJournal of Forensic Sciences, 2003
- Determination of age at death: Assessment of an algorithm of age prediction using numerical three-dimensional CT data from pubic bonesAmerican Journal of Physical Anthropology, 1999
- Racial Variation in the Sternal Extremity of the Rib and Its Effect on Age DeterminationJournal of Forensic Sciences, 1987
- Metamorphosis at the sternal rib end: A new method to estimate age at death in white malesAmerican Journal of Physical Anthropology, 1984