G. Geserick

Criteria for age estimation in living individuals

This paper presents updated recommendations of the Study Group on Forensic Age Diagnostics for age estimations in living individuals in criminal proceedings. In order to increase the diagnostic accuracy and to improve the identification of age-relevant developmental disorders, a physical examination, an X-ray examination of the left hand, as well as a dental examination including the determination of the dental status and an X-ray of the dentition should be performed in each case. If the skeletal development of the hand is completed, an additional radiological examination of the clavicles should be carried out. Minimum requirements for reference studies are defined and recommendable studies are listed. Instructions for the examination and the preparation of expert reports are presented. The committee of the study group organizes annual proficiency tests for quality assurance.

Studies on the time frame for ossification of the medial clavicular epiphyseal cartilage in conventional radiography

Radiological assessment of the degree of ossification of the medial clavicular epiphyseal cartilage plays a vital part in forensic age diagnosis of living adolescents and young adults. A total of 873 plain chest radiographs requested by the staff medical officer for members of staff aged 16–30 at the University Hospital Charité were evaluated retrospectively. Of these X-rays 699 permitted an assessment of ossification of at least 1 side of the clavicle. In addition to the customary stages (1: non-ossified epiphysis, 2: discernible ossification centre, 3: partial fusion, 4: total fusion) a stage 5 was also defined, characterised by the disappearance of the epiphyseal scar following total fusion. The earliest age at which stage 3 was detected in either gender was 16 years. Stage 4 was first observed in women at 20 years and in men at 21 years. In both genders, the earliest observation of stage 5 was at 26 years. It was concluded that plain chest radiographs can essentially be used to assess clavicular ossification. In practice, if overlap in posterior-anterior views impedes evaluation, a lateral view should also be taken to facilitate age estimation. In forensic practice the reference values of the present paper should be applied.

Validation of common classification systems for assessing the mineralization of third molars.

One major criterion for dental age estimation is the evaluation of third molar mineralization. There are various methods for evaluating tooth mineralization based on classification by stages. The aim of the present work is to assess the validity of the common classification systems. To this end, we analyzed 420 conventional orthopantomograms of German females aged 12–25 years old. The mineralization status of tooth 38 was determined using the stages defined by Gleiser and Hunt, Demirjian et al., Gustafson and Koch, Harris and Nortje and Kullman et al., respectively. Of the methods tested, the most accurate results were obtained with Demirjian et al.’s classification system, which performed best not only for observer agreement but also for the correlation between estimated and true age. It is argued that this is due to the fact that Demirjian et al.’s classification is based on a sufficient number of stages which are defined independently of speculative estimations of length. This leads to the conclusion that the method devised by Demirjian et al. should be used for evaluating the mineralization of third molars for purposes of forensic age determination.

Empfehlungen für die Altersdiagnostik bei Lebenden im Strafverfahren

Sekretars erarbeitet und von den Mit-gliedern am 15.09.2000 beschlossen.Empfehlungen fur die forensischeAltersdiagnostik bei Lebenden auser-halb des Strafrechts,bei Leichen sowiebei Skeletten sind hier nicht enthaltenund sollen als nachste Schritte erarbei-tet werden.Weiterhin ist daraufhinzuweisen,dass alle angefuhrten juristischen Be-zuge vorerst nur fur die BundesrepublikDeutschland dargestellt wurden.

Comparative study on the chronology of third molar mineralization in a Japanese and a German population

In Germany, a sharp increase in forensic age estimations of living persons has been observed in recent years. German law defines four legally relevant age limits: 14, 16, 18 and 21 years. In these age groups, radiographic assessment of the mineralization status of third molars is of particular importance. So far, the influence of ethnicity on the mineralization rate has been insufficiently analyzed. A total of 3031 orthopantomograms of 1597 Japanese and 1434 Germans aged between 12 and 26 years were examined. The mineralization status of third molars was evaluated on the basis of the classification proposed by Demirjian. For the individual mineralization stages, the study presents the mean values and standard deviations (SD) separately for both populations and sexes. The majority of probands from both the Japanese and the German population achieved the C stage and the late G and H stages of third molar development at similar ages. Significant differences between Japanese and Germans were observed, however, with regard to the D, E and F stages defined by Demirjian. Japanese men and women achieved the D, E and F stages approximately 2-3 years later than German men and women. In addition to forensic age determination in living persons, the presented reference data can also be used for age estimations of unidentified deceased persons and skeletons.

Statistical analysis and verification of forensic age estimation of living persons in the Institute of Legal Medicine of the Berlin University Hospital Charité

In recent years, the increase in international migration movements has led to a greater demand for forensic age estimation of foreigners without valid identification documents in numerous countries. The growing importance of forensic age determination is underlined by a rapid rise in the number of expert reports by the Institute of Legal Medicine of the Berlin University Hospital Charité. A total of 247 expert opinions on estimated age were given between 1992 and 31 December 2000. Subject to formal court ruling, age is estimated based on the physical inspection, in combination with an X-ray of the left hand and the clavicles as well as dental assessment. However, the statistical proof of the range of scatter for the summarized age diagnosis still remains to be clarified in the context of this assessment procedure. The age estimations made by the Institute of Legal Medicine of the Berlin University Hospital Charité were statistically analyzed with respect to the validity of the different methods. For verification of the age diagnoses, the age estimates were compared with the court records and the age determined in the course of legal proceedings. In 45 cases, the age diagnoses could be verified. In all cases where the age could be verified beyond doubt, deviations from the actual age did not exceed +/-12 months. From this, it can be concluded that the combined application of the above-mentioned methods allows forensic age estimations with a sufficiently high degree of reliability.

Strahlenexposition bei Röntgenuntersuchungen zur forensischen Altersschätzung Lebender

Röntgenuntersuchungen verschiedener Skelettabschnitte zählen zu den wichtigsten Methoden der Altersschätzung im Strafverfahren. Voraussetzung für die richterliche Anordnung nach § 81 a der Strafprozessordnung ist, dass ein Gesundheitsnachteil für den Beschuldigten nicht zu befürchten ist. Vor diesem Hintergrund werden die Strahlenexpositionen der bei forensischen Altersschätzungen im deutschsprachigen Raum eingesetzten Röntgenuntersuchungen angegeben und in Relation zu natürlichen und zivilisatorischen Strahlenexpositionen gesetzt. Die biologische Wirkung von Röntgenstrahlung im Niedrigdosisbereich wird diskutiert. Es wird geschlussfolgert, dass die am häufigsten eingesetzten Röntgenuntersuchungen der Hand und des Gebisses auch unter dem Aspekt der Strahlenexposition als für den Routineeinsatz geeignet erscheinen. Die vereinzelt praktizierte Röntgenuntersuchung multipler Skelettabschnitte ist hingegen abzulehnen. Die Möglichkeit der Anwendung von strahlungsfreien bildgebenden Verfahren ist in künftigen Forschungsprojekten zu klären.X-ray examinations on defined skeletal segments are among the most important methods for age estimation in the context of criminal proceedings. The Code of Criminal Procedure (§ 81 a) legitimises a judge’s ruling under the condition that no damage to the accused person’s health should be anticipated. This is the background against which radiation exposure for forensic age estimations is given in the context of X-ray checks, which are common in German speaking countries, and is set in relation to natural exposure and exposure occurring as a general phenomenon of civilisation. The biological effects of low-dose X-radiation are discussed. It is concluded that X-ray examinations of hands and jaws, the most common approach, are acceptable for routine use under the aspect of radiation exposure, whereas X-ray checks on multiple skeletal segments, a rarely used practice, are not. Future research should help to elucidate the possible use of non-radiation imaging techniques.

Isoelectrofocusing in the study of the Bf system: existence of two common subtypes of the BfF allele.

Abstract. The inherited polymorphism of the properdin factor B (Bf system) was studied by isoelectrofocusing in polyacrylamide gel (PAGIF, pH range 5.0–8.0), followed by immunofixation. Using the described technique, two different subtypes of F bands are visible (designated as F‘ and F“). Studies of 13 families and 48 mother‐child pairs are not in contradiction to the assumption of a codominant inheritance by two alleles (BfF’ and BF”) at a single locus.

Aktualisierte Empfehlungen der Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Forensische Altersdiagnostik für Altersschätzungen bei Lebenden im Strafverfahren

DOI 10.1007/s00194-008-0571-2 Online publiziert: 24. Oktober 2008

Der Einfluss der Ethnie auf die bei strafrechtlichen Altersschätzungen untersuchten Merkmale

ZusammenfassungDie Frage nach dem Einfluss der Ethnie auf die bei strafrechtlichen Altersschätzungen bei Lebenden untersuchten Merkmale ist von großer praktischer Bedeutung. Beim Vorliegen gravierender interethnischer Differenzen würde die Anwendung der gebräulichen Referenzstudien auf andere ethnische Gruppen zu Fehlschätzungen führen. Es wurden mehr als 500 Publikationen zu Ossifikation, Dentition und sexueller Reifeentwicklung bei zahlreichen Populationen ausgewertet. Danach ergab sich, dass definierte Entwicklungsstadien von allen ethnischen Hauptgruppen in derselben Reihenfolge durchlaufen werden. Während die Ossifikation und die Weisheitszahnmineralisation in der betreffenden Altersgruppe offenbar nicht relevant von der ethnischen Zugehörigkeit beeinflusst werden, besteht bezüglich einer möglichen vergleichsweisen Akzeleration von Afrikanern bei der Weisheitszahneruption und der sexuellen Reifeentwicklung weiterer Forschungsbedarf.AbstractThe impact of ethnicity on characteristics examined for age estimation of living individuals is of major relevance to implementation of criminal law. In cases of significant interethnic differences, application of common reference studies to other ethnic groups would lead to erroneous and even false estimates. More than 500 publications were evaluated for ossification, dentition and sexual maturation in numerous populations and the results show that there are defined stages of development which occur in the same order in all major ethnic groups. While age-related ossification and mineralisation of third molars were obviously not significantly affected by ethnic origin, further research appears to be required with regard to the relative acceleration of third molar eruption and sexual maturation in Africans.