ASSESSMENT OF BONE AGE IN KURDISH CHILDREN IN IRAN

Objectives: To investigate whether or not the Greulich- Pyle method is sufficient for Kurdish children for determination of the skeletal age. Methodology: The study group consisted of 228 children (126 girls, 102 boys), with a mean age of 10 years. These radiographs were analyzed by two radiologists who were unaware of the age of the children. Results: Mean bone ages were delayed by 2 to 21.6 months when compared to the mean chronological ages in boys aged 7 to 14 years. Mean bone ages were delayed by 6.6 to 11.9 months when compared to the mean chronological ages in girls aged 7 to 9 years and advanced by 2 to 12.2 months in girls aged 10 to 14 years. Conclusions: The results suggest that Kurdish children may have a different pattern of skeletal maturation from that of American children from which the Greulich-Pyle standards is derived.