Age estimation at death by the study of chest plate radiographs: establishing a Tunisian male score.

ABSTRACT

We aim to establish a Tunisian score for age estimation through the study of chest plate's radiographs of a Tunisian male sample. We have focused on the study of 128 chest plate radiographs of Tunisian male individuals. We have established a score of eight criteria. The total score ranges from 8 to 32. Three observers scored double-blind the X-ray films. We studied the correlation of each criterion as well as the total score with chronological age for each observer. We also tested the reproducibility and the repeatability of criteria and total score. We calculated the estimated age for each score. We studied the relationship between the estimated age and the chronological age. The correlation between the total score and the chronological age has been good for the three observers (0.746, 0.756 and 0.742). The total score gives an estimation of age with a standard deviation of ± 5.88 years and a confidence interval of 95%, the interval's width increases gradually from 6.9 years to 23 years.