Accuracy of Patient Age Estimation from Frontal Chest Radiographs of Adult Patients

Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of patient age estimation from frontal chest radiographs of adult patients. Methods: 195 posterior-anterior chest radiographs without significant abnormalities were shown to 5 staff radiologists and 6 radiology residents, who were asked to provide their estimates of patient age to the nearest decade. Real patient age distribution ranged from 16 to 91 years of age. Results: On average, correct estimate of patient age decade was made in 22% of cases. Staff radiologists were overall more accurate in their estimations compared to residents. Best accuracy was achieved by the radiologist with the most years of clinical experience, however overall accuracy did not tend to correlate with number of years in practice for staff, nor years of post-graduate training for residents. Overall, patient age was most often overestimated. The least accurate estimates were made for patients younger than 20 years and older than 90. Best accuracy was seen for patients between 50 and 70 years of age. For patients between 20 and 90 years of age, overall estimates were within 11 - 15 years of their true age. There was no significant difference in accuracy of age estimation between radiographs of women and men. Conclusions: Average rate of correct age estimation to the nearest decade from normal frontal chest radiographs in our study was 22%. Staff radiologists were more accurate than radiology residents. Best estimates were made for middle-aged patients, and worst for extremes of age.