Anatomy · Ossification, Skeletal Maturation and Radiographic Anatomy

Unlike the Greulich-Pyle atlas method, the Tanner-Whitehouse method of bone age assessment estimates skeletal maturity by:

  • A Assigning individual stage scores to the radius, ulna and short bones and summing them into a maturity score
  • B Comparing the entire hand-wrist radiograph with standardised atlas plates
  • C Measuring the width of the distal radial physis against normative charts
  • D Assessing fusion of the medial clavicular epiphysis on CT
Correct answer: A. Assigning individual stage scores to the radius, ulna and short bones and summing them into a maturity score

Explanation

The Tanner-Whitehouse system, current version TW3, grades each specified bone of the radius, ulna and thirteen short bones of the hand into defined maturity stages, converts these to weighted scores and sums them to give a bone age. Greulich-Pyle instead matches the whole radiograph against reference plates. Physis width measurement is not a validated method, and medial clavicle assessment applies to older adolescents in forensic work.

Reference: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, 21st ed.

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