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Comparison of imaging planes during CT-based evaluation of clavicular ossification: a multi-center study

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Abstract

Determining the ossification stage of the medial clavicular epiphysis by computed tomography represents the currently recommended methodology for the question of whether a living individual has completed the 18th or 21st year of life. In the present study, thin-slice CT scans of 1078 sternoclavicular joints were reconstructed in axial and coronal image series and evaluated according to the two classification systems established for age diagnostics using the clavicle. Both image series (axial and coronal) were analyzed separately. When comparing the results of axial and coronal view, a different ossification stage was found in 35.6% of the clavicles. The results suggest an influence of the imaging plane on the process of stage determination. In order to further approximate the three-dimensional and asymmetrical structure of the epiphyseal ossification center, the usage of at least two different reformation types may be recommended. In practice, only those reference studies should be applied which exactly employed the same number and orientations of the reformation types that are going to be used in the respective routine case.

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Abbreviations

MCE:

Medial clavicular epiphysis

CT:

Computed tomography

AX:

Axial image series

COR:

Coronal image series

MPR:

Multi planar reformation

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Legal Medicine, University Hospital Münster, Röntgenstraße 23, 48149, Münster, Germany

    Philipp Scharte, Ronald Schulz, Heidi Pfeiffer, Andreas Schmeling, Sven Schmidt & Daniel Wittschieber

  2. Institute of Clinical Radiology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany

    Volker Vieth

  3. Clinic of Radiology, Ibbenbüren Hospital, Ibbenbüren, Germany

    Volker Vieth

  4. Institute of Legal Medicine, University of the Saarland, Homburg, Saar, Germany

    Frank Ramsthaler

  5. Institute of Legal Medicine, University Hospital Frankfurt/Main, Frankfurt/Main, Germany

    Frank Ramsthaler

  6. Institute of Legal Medicine, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany

    Klaus Püschel

  7. Institute of Legal Medicine, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany

    Thomas Bajanowski

  8. Institute of Legal Medicine, Charité University Hospital, Berlin, Germany

    Sven Schmidt

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  1. Philipp Scharte
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  2. Volker Vieth
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Correspondence to Daniel Wittschieber.

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Scharte, P., Vieth, V., Schulz, R. et al. Comparison of imaging planes during CT-based evaluation of clavicular ossification: a multi-center study. Int J Legal Med 131, 1391–1397 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-017-1615-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-017-1615-5

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