Age assessment by three-dimensional reconstructions of pubis symphysis via magnetic resonance imaging / 中国法医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To establish a method of quick three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of pubic symphysis based on magnetic resonance imaging. Methods The pelvis images of adult male were generated on a 3.0 T scanner using a T1 Gradient Echo FLASH-3D (T1- FL3D) sequence and imported the images into medical image control system. Segmentation of binaryzation threshold was conducted and pelvic soft tissue image was extracted by regional growth, 3D structure model of pubic symphysis was obtained by Boolean operation. The 3D structure model of pubic symphysis was established by the noise reduction of reverse engineering software. And compared with the 3D reconstruction model pubic bone CT scan. Results The morphological characters of the MRI pubic symphysis 3D model, such as the ridges and furrows on the symphysial surface, lower extremity, dorsal margin (beveling), margin (beveling) and pubic tubercle, were highly consistent with the morphological characters of the 3D model established by CT scan. Conclusion MRI scan can be used to reconstruct the 3D structure of pubic symphysis quickly and effectively, and it can provide a safe radiation-free 3D visualization imaging technique for forensic age estimation for the living.