Assessment of age in foetus: A medicolegal aspect.

A Medicolegal case of embryo/foetus was received from the department of forensic medicine for the assessment of age of the foetus. The report for the assessment of age was prepared on the basis of gross appearance, radiological and histological examinations. On radiological examination of the limb tissue, the age of the foetus /embryo was approximately 3 months. The ossification centres for metatarsal bones were visible which appear at the 10th week of intrauterine life. Also on USG the femur length was found to be 10 mm which also suggests the age to be around 3 months. The smooth junction between the epidermis and dermis suggests age of the embryo/foetus to be less than 3 months because the epidermal ridges and dermal papillae become prominent at the end of 3rd month. From the basal layer of epidermis down growths were seen which were suggestive of growth of hair follicles. Hair follicles become prominent by the 10th week of intra uterine life which again reveals that the age of foetus is around end of 3rd month. From the observations, the age of the foetus was found to be more than 2 and half months but less than 3 months i.e. between 10-12 weeks.

Época de aparecimento ultra-sonográfico dos núcleos de ossificaçäo epifisária fetais distal do fêmur e proximal da tíbia: análise de 1.000 casos / Sonographic appearance of the fetal distal femoral and proximal tibial epiphyseal ossification centers: analysis of 1.000 cases

Näo se encontra bem documentada, em nosso meio, a época de aparecimento dos núcleos de ossificaçäo epifisária fetais proximal da tíbia e distal do fêmur. Pela análise de 1.000 exames ecográficos de rotina, realizados em grávidas de fetos normais, observamos que o núcleo distal do fêmur surge de forma significante entre a 31a. e 33a. semanas de gestaçäo, e o proximal da tíbia, entre a 34a. e 37a. semanas. Embora o principal parâmetro para a avaliaçäo da idade gestacional seja a medida do comprimento embrionário entre a 7a. e 11a. semanas, é frequente que a solicitaçäo do primeiro exame ecográfico seja feita apenas no terceiro trimestre da gestaçäo. Destacam-se, pois, entre outros parâmetros, o surgimento dos núcleos de ossificaçäo epifisária como auxiliares no diagnóstico da idade gestacional