Retrospective CT examinations of clavicular ossification - development of a clinical decision support system based on classical scale-based assessments and modern machine learning methodology to improve the validity and reliability of forensic age assessm

锁骨骨化的回顾性CT检查——基于经典量表评估和现代机器学习方法开发临床决策支持系统，以提高法医年龄评估的有效性和可靠性

• 批准号: 532694958
• 负责人: Professor Dr.-Ing. Lars Linsen
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: Institut für Informatik
• 依托单位国家: 德国
• 项目类别: Research Grants
• 资助国家: 德国
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gepris.dfg.de/gepris/projekt/532694958?language=en
• 关键词: Retrospective; CT; examinations; clavicular; ossification

Cross-border migration movements of people with undocumented dates of birth have led to a need for forensic age assessments when the age of these people is of legal significance. In Germany and numerous other countries the age limit of 18 has the greatest practical relevance. Only the assessment of the ossification of the medial clavicular epiphysis currently allows proof beyond reasonable doubt of the completion of the 18th year of life. Thin-slice CT is currently considered the method of choice for imaging the medial clavicular epiphysis. The main objective of the project is to considerably improve the validity and reliability of age assessments based on a CT scan of the clavicles. This includes as a basis the establishment of a first reference population optimised in terms of sample size and age distribution, and free of individuals with pathologies or medications that may affect bone maturation. Three independent experts will determine stages of clavicular ossification years according to established scales to maximize validity. The use of machine learning techniques will objectify the assessment of the ossification status of the medial clavicular epiphysis; it will also allow the search for new features applicable at older ages, not readily available for the human eye. Ratings based on machine learning methodology (both using established scales and new predictors) will be transformed into an open demonstrator for a clinical decision support system which might later on help medicolegal specialists outside of the few existing expert centers worldwide to perform legal age assessment with an objectively derivable diagnostic accuracy.

出生日期无证的人的跨界移徙导致需要进行法医年龄评估，因为这些人的年龄具有法律的意义。在德国和许多其他国家，18岁的年龄限制具有最大的实际意义。目前，只有锁骨内侧骨骺骨化的评估才能排除合理怀疑地证明已满18岁。薄层CT目前被认为是锁骨内侧骨骺成像的首选方法。该项目的主要目标是大大提高基于锁骨CT扫描的年龄评估的有效性和可靠性。这包括建立在样本量和年龄分布方面优化的第一参考人群，并且没有可能影响骨成熟的病理或药物的个体。三位独立专家将根据既定的量表确定锁骨骨化年的阶段，以最大限度地提高有效性。机器学习技术的使用将使锁骨内侧骨骺骨化状态的评估客观化;它还将允许搜索适用于老年人的新特征，而人眼不易获得。基于机器学习方法的评级（使用已建立的量表和新的预测因子）将转化为临床决策支持系统的开放式演示器，该系统可能会在以后帮助全球少数现有专家中心之外的法医专家进行法律的年龄评估，并具有客观的诊断准确性。