I have been looking at ancient Egyptian mummy x rays some are good quality and some are very poor, I am trying to find out estimate ages for them. So far I can only assess ages in children because of tooth development, after the 3rd molar appears its difficult to determine age especially when cusp wear cannot be seen on the majority of my x rays. Also to note I cannot measure the x rays as I have taken photographs of them or have been given them on a disc.
Hi Catherine,
can you evaluated the epiphyseal fusion of the medieal end of the clavicles?
All the best
Charlie
Hi Catherine
in children you can evaluate the mineralization status in adults the stage of wear. It is not a very precise methods in adults but it is possible to say young or old.
Best regards Kurt
Dear Catherine, if it is an adolescent or a young adult, you could use the method proposed by Coqueugniot and Weaver 2010 (American Journal of Physical Anthropology) (skeletal maturation). Have you an access to the original specimen ?
The best, Antony.
Regretfully, no, or very rough estimation. We do just limit ourselves on other signs and often are forced to state "adult"...
Hello Catherine,
I cannot answer for the teeth because I am not a dentist!
Nevertheless, you can work on the metaphysal areas of different bones and the reconstruction (CT Scan and Amira 3D) of some sites (clavicule, acetabulum, ribs and pubic symphysis) can may be give you some opportunities!
Virtual environnment is actually in development in forensic anthropology and autopsy.
Best regards. Phil.
If it is an adult, there is very little you can tell about age through dentition as wear patterns vary through cultural practices. If the individual is a juvenile or adolescent you can look at their tooth development and eruption patterns to get a fairly accurate age estimation.
The next paper could be another option for adults. You can find many similar articles::
Age estimation by pulp/tooth ratio in lateral and central incisors by peri-apical X-ray. Cameriete et al. 2013. J Forensic Leg Med.
All the best.
Thank you everyone who has replied. Sadly I cannot view the specimens as they are mummies of which are still wrapped and sadly reexamination I cannot fund or get help (which would be very helpful). I have looked at epiphysis fusion on all of the mummies the majority are adults, except a few children but limitation is from the X ray themselves. The children who would be easier to age have been poorly x rayed, to the extent I cannot even age by teeth. The poor x rays I have were produced in 1960's, the majority were over exposed to the extent in which teeth cannot be seen or pulp cavity is not clear.
Thank you again for your guidance I will look at the suggestions you have given.
Here's one of the poor x rays I have.
If the root is not fully closed it could be useful. Also, you could look at the medial clavicle if you have a chest x-Ray
Hi Catharine,
I realise it might not be the most popular or accurate method, but if it is all you have, you could try estimating age based on long bone lengths. Of course, there are problems with this. For example, long bone length is more affected by physiological stress (illness, malnutrition) than dental development, and there is population variation in growth trajectories. But, it may be able to give you a ballpark estimate, if none of the other more reliable methods are available. However, I also think you will need to take into account tube-film distance (at least I've seen it referenced in some radiographic studies), as well as the angle of the x-ray....best of luck!
Hi Catherine,
There is the possibility of a rough age estimation in adults using the obliteration status of the cranial sutures if you can see them on the x-Ray. (see Nemeskéri and Acsádi 1970).
Hi Caterine if the quality of the x ray is good with helpful of Amira you can applly the method of Drusini (2009) on the pulp chamber. Is a good and simply method
Maybe you can use the age estimation method by pulp/tooth ratio developed by Cameriere (J Forensic Leg Med. 2013). This paper could also be helpful: Limdiwala PG1, Shah JS. Age estimation by using dental radiographs.J Forensic Dent Sci. 2013 Jul;5(2):118-22. doi: 10.4103/0975-1475.119778.
Good the method of Cameriere is very good but I think that the regression formula was created on living population while in Drusini on ancient 8medieval) populations
perhaps but necessity to obtain a dental panoramic X Ray !
In living young people, a single hand radiograph can be used as a good estimate of bone age. Of course, as mentioned above, if there was a systemic disease or a hormone abnormality that affected maturation, the bone age could be delayed or advanced. If you have a single AP hand radiograph, there's help available.
There are radiological standards using texts for aging in children by assessment of hand-wrist films.
Greulich and Pyle for aging and sexual dimorphism of in aging of films. ...any radiologist could help you!
Hi Catherine:
Do you have the opportunity to perform a panoramic x-ray, or any non-elongated x-ray of long bones?
Regards.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1556-4029.2011.01784.x/abstract
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