Utilizing Multi Detector Computed Tomography in Sex Determination from Mandibular Measurements of a Sharkia Governorate Population Sample in Egypt

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology, Zagazig Faculty of Medicine.

2 Department of Neurosurgery, Zagazig Faculty of Medicine, Egypt

3 Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Zagazig Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt.

4 Deartment of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Zagazig Faculty of Medicine, Egypt

5 Department of Forensic medicine and Toxicology Zagazig University

Abstract

Background: Forensic sex determination is crucial for human identification. The mandible, the largest strongest and movable part of the skull, is often recovered intact and being a practical element to analyze sexual dimorphism in fragmented bones. Aim of the work: The present study was designed to compare mandibular measurements on both sides to determine sex through 3-dimensional CT skull images of Egyptian individuals. Subjects and methods: The study analyzed computed tomography (CT) radiographs from 36 male and 36 female cases at Zagazig University, calculating mandibular linear measurements and angles, and comparing them using statistical analysis. Results: The study results showed statistically highly significant differences between males and females in all the seven linear measurements taken from the mandible (P below 0.01), whereas the differences in the three angles calculated from the seven linear measurements were not statistically significant (p above 0.05). The right and left coronoid to gonion linear measurements showed the greatest discriminative power compared to other parameters, based on ROC analysis (AUC and accuracy), with an accuracy of 77.8%, and 72.2% respectively. An equation for sex prediction from each of these 2 parameters was also developed to be applied in cases when only half of the mandible is available. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the human mandible has a high sexual prediction value. The study presented equations for sex prediction using a single mandibular parameter. Larger sample-sized multi-centered studies with racial diversity would be needed to provide more robust and wider population specific conclusions.

Keywords

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics