Cheiloscopy in sex estimation: a systematic review

Abstract

This study aimed to conduct a systematic review to gather evidence to clarify if cheiloscopy can be used in sex estimation and identify the reasons behind the lack of consensus in the scientific community. The systematic review was performed following the PRISMA guidelines. A bibliographic survey was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, restricted to articles published between 2010 and 2020. Studies were selected according to eligibility criteria, and then the study data were collected. The risk of bias in each study was assessed and applied as additional inclusion or exclusion criteria. The results of the articles eligible for analysis were synthesized using a descriptive approach. In the 41 included studies, several methodological flaws and variations between studies that contribute to the discrepancy in results were identified. The data gathered allowed us to conclude that there is no strong scientific evidence to support the use of cheiloscopy in sex estimation, as there is no specific pattern for each sex, which reduces the criminalistic interest of cheiloscopy in estimating this parameter.

Potential and Limits of the Synergy Between Cheiloscopy and Rugoscopy in Forensic Odontology

“…Even two recent systematic reviews report discordant opinions. The first [26] agrees with us regarding the problems of methodology and considers cheiloscopy invalid for determining the sex of a subject; the second, which analyses both rugoscopy and cheiloscopy, finds the method even more reliable than rugoscopy, with an accuracy of 80%, [38].…”

“…Even in the field of cheiloscopy, data are not always in agreement. On the one hand, this may be attributable, in part, to variations between populations, but on the other hand, several discrepancies arise from the numerous methods used in literature [26] and the difficult interpretation of the data collected, where operator-dependent errors may be frequent [31].…”

Cheiloscopic Evaluation in Forensic Odontostomatology: Exploring Potential and Limitations

“…Although our study performed a sextant-based analysis of lip prints, literature reveals various approaches to observing and analyzing these prints. Particular attention must be paid to the way lip prints are observed and analyzed, given that the result of the search for a predominant Type may differ depending on whether the lips are analyzed in their entirety or if attention is paid to a specific portion [47]. Therefore, it is to be expected that a particular Type found when analyzing an entire print may differ from the one found when analyzing a smaller portion [Figure 8].…”

“…Approaches ranged from analyzing the entire lip without any segmental division to dividing the lip into four, six, eight, or twelve segments, most commonly arranged in a clockwise manner. Some methods also focused on more restricted areas, limiting the analysis to specific smaller sections of the lip (47).…”

“…The decision to exclude stick lipstick from consideration was informed by the inherent challenge of achieving uniform coverage across all lip surfaces. Ensuring this uniform coverage is a crucial factor in maintaining the fidelity of obtained prints, an aspect that receives attention in numerous studies [47].…”