Assessment of sexual dimorphism using digital orthopantomographs in South Indians

Abstract

Introduction:The identification of human skeletal remains plays a crucial role in forensic investigation and its accuracy depends on the available parts of the skeleton. The mandible is the hardest and strongest bone of the skull, which exhibits a high degree of sexual dimorphism and helps to identify the sex in human remains. The aim of this study was to develop discriminant function to determine sex from the mandibular radiographs in a South Indian (Visakhapatnam) population.Materials and Methods:This retrospective study consisted of 384 (192 males and 192 females) digital orthopantomographs (OPGs) divided into five groups according to age. Ten mandibular variables were measured using Planmeca Romexis software. The data were tabulated and subjected to discriminant function analyses using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software (version 20.0) package.Results:All the parameters showed a significant sexual dimorphism (P < 0.001) except for the gonial angle. An overall accuracy of 75.8% was achieved and coronoid height (CrH) was the single best parameter providing an accuracy of 74.1%.Conclusion:All the mandibular variables except for the gonial angle (GA) were found to be reliable in determining the sex in South Indians for forensic purposes.

Evaluation of Sexual Dimorphism with Mandibular Parameters by Digital Panoramic Radiography

“…In the present study, the height of coronoid, as in the studies by Sairam and Damera, had sexual dimorphism, and the ramus height in these three studies showed the highest sexual dimorphism. However, in the Sambhana study, the height of the coronoid was the most significant parameter with sexual dimorphism [1,6,12].…”

“…Sambhana also provided an equation with an accuracy of 75.8% by examination of 10 parameters [12]. Sairam by examining 7 parameters and Indira by examining 5 parameters also obtained equations with an accuracy of 79.5% and 76%, respectively [4,6].…”

“…In the study by Sambhana, the coronoid height followed by ramus height also had the highest sexual dimorphism. Differences in study population, race, and method of measuring can also be effective in these differences [4,12].…”

“…These variables are coronoid height (the distance between the coronion and the lower wall of the bone) [4], mandible body height (direct distance from the alveolar process to the lower border of mandible), chin height (the distance between the menton and the alveolar crest), ramus height (the distance between the highest and the lowest posterior point of ramus), the minimum width of ramus (the lowest posterior-anterior distance of ramus) [12], the distance between the gonial of both sides (the horizontal distance from the right gonion to the left gonion) [1], the distance between the condyle of both sides (the direct distance between the most lateral points on both condyles), the distance between the coronoid of both sides (the direct distance between the most interior points on coronoid) [12] and the gonial angle (a line is tangential to the most inferior points in gonial angle and lower border of mandible body, and another line is tangential to the posterior borders of the ramus and condyle. The angle between these lines forms the gonial angle) [1].…”

“…Recently, studies have been conducted on the ability of radiographic images to determine sex in different societies [1,11,12]. Considering the importance of the subject and the lack of research in the Iranian population, this study aimed to assess sexual dimorphism with mandibular parameters such as including the ramus height, the coronoid height, the mental height, the mandible body height, by using panoramic radiographs in Rasht-Iran population.…”