Rib histomorphometry: A reliability and validation study with a critical review of histological techniques for forensic age estimation

•Age estimation by bone histomorphometry is often used on fragmented human remains.•Histomorphometry aging methods must be validated if they are to be used forensically.•Methods reliability, accuracy and bias are tested on two Mediterranean samples.•Age estimation errors might be related to intrinsi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Legal medicine (Tokyo, Japan) Japan), 2021-03, Vol.49, p.101827-101827, Article 101827
Main Authors: García-Donas, Julieta G., Bonicelli, Andrea, Scholl, Ashely Rose, Lill, Caroline, Paine, Robert R., Kranioti, Elena F.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age estimation
Histomorphometry
Mediterranean populations
Ribs
Validation study
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Summary:•Age estimation by bone histomorphometry is often used on fragmented human remains.•Histomorphometry aging methods must be validated if they are to be used forensically.•Methods reliability, accuracy and bias are tested on two Mediterranean samples.•Age estimation errors might be related to intrinsic factors and methodological issues. Fragmented human remains present a challenge for forensic experts as they attempt to identify individuals using standard forensic methods. Several histological age estimation techniques have been developed during the last fifty years to aid in this process. However, very few validation studies have been conducted in order to test their accuracy and bias, and thus, validation assessment is required as we employ them while testifying in court. Histological variables are assessed from rib thin sections from two Mediterranean samples; Cretans (N = 41) and Greek-Cypriots (N = 47). Intra and inter-observer errors are assessed through TEM analysis and Intra-class Correlation Coefficient by testing observers with different levels of experience as they collected data on osteon counts and area measurements. The relation between the variables and age is determined using correlation coefficients. Histomorphometric data are applied to four widely used age estimation formulas assessing the performance of the methods for the entire sample. Inaccuracy and bias are calculated with age estimations and known age tested for significance and proportional bias assessed. Overall, histological parameters presented acceptable intra- and inter-observer errors. All variables exhibited statistically significant correlation with age (P 
ISSN:1344-6223
1873-4162
DOI:10.1016/j.legalmed.2020.101827