Radiological measurements of the skull and its use in sex estimation: A study in Sri Lanka

Introduction: In identification of an individual, the forensic pathologists and the anthropologists examine skeletal material. The aim of this study was to determine the cranio-facial structures which can be used to estimate sex in the adult Sri Lankan population.

 

Methods: The study sample consisted of 166 patients (77 males and 89 females), who underwent computed tomography (CT) brain examinations. The volumes of the maxillary, and frontal sinuses, and the measurements of angular forehead, skull, and facial structures were taken by two observers on axial, sagittal, and coronal planes of CT images. The age and sex of the patient were recorded along with the measurements. Data were analyzed using the statistical tests including independent sample t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, available in the SPSS version 25 software with P<0.05 indicating level of significance.

 

Results: The left maxillary sinus volume (ML), right maxillary sinus volume (MR), skull length (SL), prostio-bregmatic height (PBH), and maximum skull width (MSW), frontal sinus volume (F), angle of deviation of actual from ideal forehead slope (ANB), angle of inclination of actual forehead slope (BNV), and nasofrontal angle (BNC) had a statistically significant differences between males and females (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the angle of inclination of ideal forehead slope (ANV) in the two sexes (P>0.05).

 

Conclusion: Left maxillary sinus volume (ML), right maxillary sinus volume (MR), frontal sinus volume (F), nasofrontal angle (BNC), angle of inclination of ideal forehead slope (ANV), angle of deviation of actual from ideal forehead slope (ANB), skull length (SL), prostio-bregmatic height (PBH), maximum skull width (MSW) can help estimate the sex of a Sri Lankan person.

 

Left maxillary sinus volume (ML), right maxillary sinus volume (MR), frontal sinus volume (F), skull length (SL), prostio-bregmatic height (PBH), maximum skull width (MSW), nasofrontal angle (BNC), angle of deviation of actual from ideal forehead slope (ANB) and the angle of inclination of actual forehead slope (BNV).