应用CT最大密度投影技术探索胸骨推断成人年龄研究

Research on adult age estimation from sternum based on CT maximum intensity projection

目的 应用CT最大密度投影重组技术探索以胸骨为主要观察指标用于成人年龄推断的可行性。方法 收集550例西南地区汉族成人胸部薄层CT图像,随机抽取50例作为独立测试样本,其余作为训练样本用于数据分析。参照Haj等分级方法进行人工阅片评分,统计分析筛选相关指标,建立多种回归模型并验证内部性能和外部性能。结果 胸骨各指标除胸骨柄-胸骨体连接融合等级外与年龄有中等或较差相关性。所建模型性能最好的内部验证结果为平均绝对误差7.15岁、绝对误差在10岁以内的概率达74%,外部验证结果为平均绝对误差7.18岁、绝对误差在10岁以内的概率达74%。结论 基于CT最大密度投影观测胸骨骨化融合等指标推断成人年龄的误差仍较大,实践中仍需结合其他指标综合推断成人年龄。

Objective To explore the feasibility of using sternum for adult age estimation by CT maximum intensity projection. Methods The chest thin slice CT scans of 550 southwest China Han adults were retrospectively collected, of which 50 cases were randomly selected as independent test set, and the remained were training set. Referring to the grading method proposed by Haj et al., all samples were evaluated and graded, and relevant indicators were screened for further statistical analysis. Various regression models were established, and the model performance was evaluated internally and externally. Results The correlations between all sternal indicators and age were moderate or poor. The best results of internal verification of the built models were that the mean absolute error was 7.15 years and the accuracy rate was 74 %within10 years, and that of the external were a mean absolute error of 7.18 years and an accuracy rate of 74 % within10years. Conclusion The accuracy of adult age estimation based on the maximum intensity projection of sternum CT is still not satisfactory, so it should be combined with other indicators in practice.