Forensic age estimation of living individuals: a novel bibliometric approach to the literature review

This study investigates the trends within published research up to 2019 in relation skeletal and dental age estimation living individuals by using a novel bibliometric analysis which utilizes specialist, open-source R script. The was performed on total of 644 papers (627 articles, fifteen conference papers, two reviews) retrieved online database Scopus. included an investigation publication trends, authors’ affiliations, citation, Open Access publications, keywords, index keywords. An additional conducted between methodologies developed specific populations that have been tested. imaging techniques areas body used these studies also examined. Estimation médicolégale de l’âge d'individus vivants : une nouvelle approche bibliométrique la revue littérature Résumé La présente étude examine les tendances des recherches publiées jusqu’à concernant l'estimation osseux et dentaire vivants, au moyen d'une analyse utilisant un Script spécial en open-source. Cette été menée sur publications 15 actes conférences 2 revues) trouvées dans base données ligne Elle incluait l'examen affiliations auteurs, citations, libres droit, mots-clés auteurs d'index. Une supplémentaire le lien entre méthodologies élaborées spécifiques testées. Le d'imagerie parties du corps utilisées ces études également examiné. Age has had increasing profile over recent decades (Schmeling 2016). Currently, owing cross-border migration related sociopolitical developments, number who lack valid identity documents prove their increased (Ritz-Timme al. 2000). Depending legal threshold country, assessment might be required for criminal proceedings or ensure children access appropriate rights resources (Márquez-Grant 2015; Schmeling, Olze, Reisinger & Geserick 2004). For refugees seeking asylum, scientific assist correct status applicant (European Asylum Support Office 2018). Furthermore, is important cases human trafficking, adoption, competitive sports Black 2010). According Study Group Forensic Diagnostics, three-step procedure should adopted when estimating individual: physical evaluation development Up until recently, estimate were based radiographs (de Sanctis 2016; Schmeling 2010), although time newer utilized, such as magnetic resonance (MRI). Specific population studies, available literature, carried out aiming test validity accuracy most common different groups (Doyle 2019; Jayaraman, Wong, King Roberts 2013; Sehrawat Singh 2017). Intra- inter-variability factors (e.g. socioeconomic background, poor food, can lead malnutrition, hormonal diseases influence affect development) taken into account they outcome 2000; Tomei, Battisti, Martino, Nissman Semelka 2014). One main issues older methodologies, Greulich Pyle (1959) Tanner (Tanner 1983; Tanner, Healy, Goldstein Cameron 2001), plain whose being closely monitored throughout study; however, require asylum seekers, unaccompanied minors, trafficking victims) may come from low background where health status, food intake, so on, are unknown (Franklin, Flavel, Nobel, Swift Karkhanis Reisinger, Wormanns Serinelli 2015). In living, can, do, rates maturation individuals, consequently leading either under- overestimation Tomei Despite potential issues, radiographic tested utilized worldwide, widely accepted. Lately, concerns raised around ethicality ionizing forensic purposes. As stated European (2018), ‘less intrusive/more accurate’ modalities first choice, following principle best interest child. MRI ultrasound radiation-free indicated potentially suitable Therefore, focused new non-ionizing techniques, especially 2018; Given this aims investigate literature field approach. approach allows in-depth research, relationships authors, most-used regarding commonly reliability accuracy. Scientific relevant 2019, searched Scopus; no year range selected earliest search. purposes study, multiple searches combinations At end each search, corresponding Excel file, list downloaded renamed with keywords Categories included: modality imaging/MRI computed tomography/CT scan), area hand wrist knee), general topic estimation). therefore identified populations, focus 21 years threshold. inclusion criteria, paper checked manually remove any unrelated investigation. Only purpose (development testing pre-existing populations) study. Papers adult at death remains not included. A final analysis. file then generated including only use (.csv file) publication, title paper, journal, names, ID, Digital Object Identifier (DOI), Scopus (EID). abstracts citations launched November 2004 includes more than 25,000 active journal titles 56 million 5,000 publishers (updated August 2020). 6,700 (out 7,000) covered MEDLINE, hosted PubMed platform. journals through MEDLINE ‘MEDLINE sourced’. Among articles press (AiP), books, chapters, data reviews. subject sciences, social life sciences. To global coverage, all geographical regions, written other languages (22 per cent), long abstract English provided. More 5,500 Open-Access journals. perform statistical analysis, script (RStudio, Version 1.2.1335). aimed period 1974 2019.1 part (authors’ keywords). Authors’ analysed investigated separately, charts generated. allowed publication. second authors. contribution relationship authors groups. Publication according technique dental/skeletal Publications divided one those one. five categories, modality. results create bar plot R. 612 previous information extracted concerning methodology applied, population, sex, sample. created, adding paper. It possible every article, resulting loss 198 section review. 414 papers. obtained graphs highlight 644, 627 Table 1 shows overview gathered it (total type publication) year, paper: ‘first only’ authors). Also given ratio percentage appear Gustafson Koch 1974. There nineteen-year gap recorded list, Mincer, Harris, Berryman 1993. clear time. increase seen occurred 2007, seventeen compared six 2006. peak 2014, sixty-two forty-one 2013. highest (eighty-seven articles), followed 2018 (sixty-four articles). Out (644) reviewed (1974-2019), fifty (OA) (7.76 cent). OA authored Liversidge Marsden 2010, Nur 2012. Figure 24 cent OA. country affiliation examined (Fig. 2). three recorded, 641 author documented, 855 across sixty-eight countries. contributed India, 104 (12.1 Germany, 95 (11.1 Italy, 70 (8.2 Europe continent contribution, 424 (49.6 continent. numbers analysed; top cited shown 3. four estimation: AlQahtani, Hector, (2010), Mincer (1993), (1974) estimation, whilst Schulz, (2004) Schmeling's medial clavicle. last Maber, Liversidge, Hector (2006), presents application Demirjian, Haavikko, Nolla Bangladeshi British Caucasian 3.99 16.99 age. present 918. 3 chart represents ‘Age Determination’, ‘Third Molars’, ‘Dental Age’ 16 Estimation’ keyword found commonly, appearing 269 times, after its Kullman, Martinsson, Zimmerman, Welander (1995) about young adults computerized measurements mandibular third molar. ‘Forensic Odontology’ follow next respectively 118 111 times appearance Willems, van Olmen, Spiessens, Carels (2001) revisited Demirjian's eight-teeth Belgian population. refer types ‘Radiography/Radiographs’ thirty-six appeared Lyons, (2003) radiographs. ‘Computed Tomography (CT)’ twenty-one Kreitner, Schweden, Riepert, Nafe, Thelen (1998). ‘MRI’/‘Magnetic Resonance Imaging’ Schmidt, Mühler, Schulz (2007). Both Kreitner (1998) Schmidt (2007) estimated anatomical mentioned Molar/Molars’, ninety-one times. Molar/Molars’ (1974). ‘Clavicle’ thirty-one Other areas, hand/wrist knee, frequently do chart. relating showed graph: ‘Demirjian Method’ (used ninety-three times) ‘Willems eighteen times). 1998 Koshy Tandon applicability south 2010 El-Bakary, Hammad, Mohammed (2010) comparison applied Egyptian 1,238. 4 years. detected ‘Human/Humans’ 972 entries, ‘Male’, ‘Female’, ‘Adolescent’, found, respectively, 538, 525, 522 ones (1974), among Estimation’, ‘Panoramic Radiography’, ‘Tooth Development’. Index (‘Radiography’, ‘Wrist ‘Hand etc.) 801 before, Radiography’ 2006 reference Thiemann-Nitz Baumann, Wernecke, (2006); 2009 Büken (2009) Zhang (2009), Turkish children, difference Chinese adolescents cities. CT-related (‘Computer Assisted Tomography’, ‘Multidetector Computed Tomography’) thirty-nine MRI-related (‘Magnetic Imaging/Nuclear Magnetic Imaging’) eighty-two However, 2013, consistently. obtain forty-five already noted clavicle ‘Knee’ 2008 studies: correlation chronological Irish O'Connor, Bogue, Spence, Last (2008); Marak, Sangma, Singh, Kharrubon (2008) Northeastern Indian elbow, wrist, pelvis. Keywords referred 168 ‘Hand’ ‘Wrist’ 2005 Orlanducci (2005) precision children. ‘Carpal Bone’, ‘Radius’, ‘Ulna’ Cameriere, Ferrante, Mirtella, Cingolani indicator. Bone/Bones’ 2007 Koch, methodologies. ‘Bone Development/Bone Maturation’ 103 Development’ Li, Ye, Wang, bones 14-year-olds population; Büken, Şafak, Yazici, Mayda development/area 438 ‘Tooth’ (1974); Molar’ ‘Molar Tooth’ 1993 311 times; El-Bakary Regarding mention – thirty-five maturity France Chaillet Demirjian Chaillet, 3,095 (Table 1), 454 studies. once Overall, there greater average 4.24 5.3 5 co-authorship (edges) (nodes). Using Scopus, categories depending technique. (95.03 cent) orthopantomogram (OPG) prevalent (63.2 (20.9 Ultrasound least represented (1.96 4). thirty-two (4.97 used. these, majority radiography: twenty-six (81.25 remaining techniques. Resinger, radiography CT scan ossification stages clavicular epiphysis. Tangmose, Jensen Lynnerup comparing developmental scan. P. Baumann 2015 OPG 2016, technique: Kocasarac, Sinanoglu, Noujeim, Yigit, Baydemir (2016), scan, Fan MRI. Vieth, Kellinghaus, Pfeiffer, techniques: radiography, MRI, never another studied 5). All some point radiography. 387 wrist. fifty-one (33.3 twelve (23.5 ultrasound, thirty-four (52.9 (41.6 addition useful visualizing dentition, seven (1.8 (1.2 399 scans (eighteen), (ten), (six). modality: eighty (77.5 (seventeen) (one). include fourteen (53.8 (46.2 No iliac crest apophysis (80.9 (9.5 (4.8 Radiographic foot/ankle, distal tibia fibula (Singh, Gorea, Oberoi Asawa 2013), foot (Hackman, Davies cervical vertebrae (Cameriere 2015), placed category ‘Others’. modality, spheno-occipital synchondrosis (Bassed, Briggs Drummer 2010; Can 2014; Kocasarac Noujeim 2016), rib (Moskovitch scapula (Nougarolis fibular epiphysis (Schulz, Schiborr, olecranon ulna 2014), trochanter femur (Schmidt, fusion proximal humeral (Sánchez, Codinha, García Sánchez tibial calcaneus (Ekizoglu Saint-Martin (Saint-Martin (Ekizoglu, Hocaoglu, Can, Inci Aksoy manubrium (Martínez Vera 2017), Inci, Ors, Ekizoglu, Kacmaz, 2019). ‘Multiple’ nine (64.3 (21.4 (14.3 recorded. Analysis made trend clearly consideration clavicle, pelvis, teeth. 414. twenty-nine (7 fifty-two (12.56 knee (3.38 pelvis eleven (2.66 teeth 308 (74.40 6). (1959), (2004), Goldstein, (1973), further investigated. methodology, consideration, giving nineteen greatest location Italian Of countries, sev