The Usefulness of Mandibular Ramus as an Indicator in Sex Differentiation Using 3D Reconstructed Computed Tomography

Abstract

Background: Determination of sex from an unknown human bone is an important role in forensic and anthropologyfield. The mandible is the largest and hardest facial bone, that commonly resist postmortem damage and forms animportant source of information about sexual dimorphism. Mandibular ramus can be used to differentiate betweensexes and it also expresses strong univariate sexual dimorphism. This study was undertaken to assess the usefulness ofmandibular ramus as an aid in sex differentiation using CT scanning among Iraqi population.Materials and methods: 3D reconstructed computed tomography scanning of 140 Iraqi Arab subjects, (7 0 malesand 70 females) were analyzed with their age range from 20-60 years old. The linear measurements were locatedand marked on axial and sagittal sections including right and left sides of the mandible.Results: For the all measurements for sexes the mean value for male were highly significant than female with (P=value < 0.001).A receiver operating characteristic curves was obtained for each variable to observe their overallperformance in sex determination. The area of maximum mandibular ramus height was found to be the bestparameter according to ROC analysis to establish the diagnosis of male (ROC=0.952cm for both unilateral andbilateral measurements). Age showed no statistical difference in the current study.Conclusion: 3D reconstructed computed tomography scanning plays an important role as a diagnostic method foranalyzing the linear measurements of the mandibular ramus in sex differentiation. Sex determination for isolated partof the skull (e.g. mandible) could be achieved, instead of complete skull, and the highest accuracy in sexdetermination can be obtained whether complete or part of mandible is available for examination