| Sumario: | Objective: Age estimation is an important step for biological identification. Histomorphometric age estimation in humans is based on observation of microstructural changes in the cortical bone. Several studies have used undecalcified bone sections for histomorphometric age estimation. In Thailand, most hospitals provide facilities and equipment for decalcified methods. Thus, the aim of this study is to develop an age prediction equation using decalcified bone sections stained by picrosirius red in the Thai population. Design: Age at death estimation was analyzed histomorphometrically from the cortical bones of femurs. Materials and Methods: Femoral cortical bone was collected from 71 cadavers (49 males and 22 females) with known age, sex and cause of death. Tissue sections were decalcified and stained with picrosirius red. Histological variables were measured with pixels using an image processing technique and MATLAB program. The histological area was measured in five variables. In addition, this study attempted to develop one new variable for quantifying the measurement of bone collagen. Results: Stepwise multiple regression was employed to develop a predictive model of age estimation. The stepwise selection method in this study utilized the following three histological variables for the equation: the perimeter of Haversian canal, the percentage of lamellar bone area and collagen in the bone stained by picrosirius red. The multiple correlation coefficient and standard error of estimate were 0.906 and 8.26, respectively. Conclusion: The decalcifying procedure and staining method that is routinely employed in histopathology laboratories with image processing technique can assist with age at death estimations in Thailand.
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