A problematic dismissal of forensic age estimation.

The recent review by Axelsson in Acta Paediatrica (1) concluded that bone age cannot be used in asylum proceedings to assess whether someone is an adult, due to the effects of chronic stress. It is not obvious how this conclusion was reached, since the review did not study bone maturation or the relevant age group. Instead, the assertion rested on the finding that certain disparate environmental or biochemical factors have been associated with the accelerated onset of early developmental milestones, such as adrenarche and menarche or increased testicular volume in 5-10-year-olds. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.