The evaluation of children with hypothyroidia applied to Bursa Uludag University Medical Faculty in terms of age determination: A retrospective study

One of the important issues in forensic medicine practice is age determination. This concept, which is frequently on the agenda in cases such as the determination of criminal responsibility, sexual crimes, paternity determination, military enlistment, is needed in cases of delay in education, health, military service, civil service, marriage, retirement, obtaining a driver's license and especially in rural areas in our country. It is necessary to pay attention to genetic, hormonal and environmental factors that may cause false evaluations in forensic processes in bone development. Hypothyroidism, which is the most common thyroid dysfunction in the pediatric age group; It is defined as insufficient secretion of thyroid hormones from the thyroid gland. In our study, it was aimed to discuss the findings obtained by evaluating the left wrist radiographs of children with hypothyroidism under follow-up in the light of the atlases of Semsi Gok (SG), Greulich Pyle (GP) and Gilsanz-Ratib (GR). A total of 198 cases, aged between 1 and 17, who were followed up with the diagnosis of hypothyroidism between 01.01.2011 and 31.12.2020 in Bursa Uludag University Health Practice and Research Center Pediatric Endocrinology Outpatient Clinic were included in the study. The radiographs of the left hand and wrist of the cases taken with the appropriate technique were evaluated retrospectively and compared with the reference radiographs suitable for gender and age in the atlases of Semsi Gok (SG), Greulich Pyle (GP) and Gilsanz-Ratib (GR). 54.5% of the cases were girls, 45.5% were boys, there was no significant difference between the sexes in terms of chronological age. It has been determined that the Greulich Pyle atlas is ahead of the 14.99 age group, and the bone age is behind the atlases in all other age groups. In all three atlases, the average chronological age in both girls and boys was found behind in all cases. In conclusion, in our study, it was determined that the atlases of Şemsi Gok and Gilsanz Ratib in all groups, Semsi Gok in girls, Semsi Gok and Gilsanz Ratib in boys can be used for chronological age determination by considering the year difference. Keywords: Forensic age determination, bone age, hypothyroidism.