Sex and Age Related Variations in Mandibular Cortical Thickness on Panoramic Radiographs: Implications for Forensic Identification

Öz

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between linear mandibular measurements obtained from panoramic radiographs and age and sex, and to investigate their potential contribution to forensic identification. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective study, digital panoramic radiograph images of 148 individuals (74 females and 74 males) selected from the archive of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Atlas University, were evaluated. Bilateral measurements included mental foramen cortical thickness, inferior cortical thickness at the first molar region, mandibular canal–ramus cortex distance, and ramus–angle distance. Individuals were divided into five age groups (18–29, 30–39, 40–49, 50–59, and ≥60 years). Measurement reliability was assessed using intra- and inter-observer intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) analyses. Relationships between age and measurements were assessed using Spearman correlation analysis, age-group comparisons using the Kruskal–Wallis test, and sex comparisons using the Mann–Whitney U test. Results: High intra- and inter-observer agreement was obtained, with ICC values exceeding 0.90 for most parameters. Measurement values were generally higher in males, with significant sex differences in most mandibular morphometric parameters (p<0.05). The most pronounced difference was observed in ramus–angle distance. Among age groups, a significant difference was found only in the right mandibular canal–ramus cortex distance (p=0.003). Weak negative correlations were detected between age and right and left ramus–angle distances (r=-0.185/-0.203; p<0.05), whereas no significant associations with age were found for the remaining parameters. Conclusion: Mandibular morphometric measurements, particularly ramus–angle distance and mental foramen cortical thickness, may be useful parameters for sex assessment. However, their contribution to age estimation in adults appears limited. These measurements may serve as supportive parameters alongside other methods in forensic identification. Keywords: Forensic dentistry, sex determination by skeleton, mandible, radiography panoramic, age determination by skeleton.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Forensic dentistry
• sex determination by skeleton
• mandible
• radiography panoramic
• age determination by skeleton

Destekleyen Kurum

None

Etik Beyan

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest related to this study.

Teşekkür

None

Panoramik Röntgenlerde Mandibular Kortikal Kalınlığın Cinsiyete ve Yaşa Bağlı Değişiminin Adli Kimliklendirme Açısından Değerlendirilmesi

Öz

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı, panoramik röntgenler üzerinde gerçekleştirilen doğrusal mandibular ölçümlerin yaş ve cinsiyet ile ilişkisini değerlendirmek ve bu ölçümlerin adli kimliklendirme sürecindeki potansiyel katkısını incelemektir. Yöntem: Bu retrospektif çalışmada, Atlas Üniversitesi Diş Hekimliği Fakültesi Ağız, Diş ve Çene Radyolojisi Anabilim Dalı arşivinden seçilen 148 bireye (74 kadın, 74 erkek) ait dijital panoramik röntgen görüntüleri değerlendirildi. Bilateral olarak mental foramen bölgesi kortikal kalınlığı, birinci molar hizasında inferior kortikal kalınlık, mandibular kanal–ramus korteksi mesafesi ve ramus–angulus mesafesi ölçüldü. Bireyler beş yaş grubuna ayrıldı (18–29, 30–39, 40–49, 50–59, ≥60 yaş). Ölçüm güvenilirliği gözlemci içi/arası ICC analizi ile değerlendirildi. Yaş ile ölçümler arasındaki ilişki Spearman korelasyonu, yaş gruplarına göre karşılaştırma Kruskal–Wallis testi, cinsiyete göre karşılaştırma ise Mann–Whitney U testi ile değerlendirildi. Bulgular: Tüm ölçüm parametrelerinde yüksek düzeyde gözlemci içi ve gözlemciler arası uyum elde edildi ve parametrelerin büyük bölümünde ICC değerleri 0,90'ın üzerinde bulundu. Erkek bireylerde ölçüm değerleri genel olarak daha yüksek olup, mandibular morfometrik parametrelerin büyük bölümünde cinsiyetler arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı farklılık saptandı (p<0,05). En belirgin cinsiyet farkı ramus–angulus mesafesinde gözlendi. Yaş grupları arasında yalnızca sağ mandibular kanal–ramus korteksi mesafesinde anlamlı farklılık bulundu (p=0,003). Yaş ile sağ ve sol ramus–angulus mesafesi arasında zayıf negatif korelasyon saptanırken (r=-0,185/-0,203; p<0,05), diğer parametrelerde yaşla anlamlı ilişki bulunmadı. Sonuç: Mandibular morfometrik ölçümler, özellikle ramus–angulus mesafesi ve mental foramen bölgesi kortikal kalınlığı, cinsiyet değerlendirmesinde yararlı parametreler olarak öne çıkmaktadır. Buna karşın, bu ölçümlerin erişkin bireylerde yaş tahminine katkısı sınırlıdır. Bulgular, mandibular morfometrik ölçümlerin adli kimliklendirmede tek başına değil, diğer yöntemlerle birlikte destekleyici parametre olarak kullanılabileceğini göstermektedir. Anahtar Kelimeler: Adli diş hekimliği, iskeletten cinsiyet tayini, mandibula, panoramik radyografi, iskeletten yaş tayini.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Adli diş hekimliği
• iskeletten cinsiyet tayini
• mandibula
• panoramik radyografi
• iskeletten yaş tayini

Destekleyen Kurum

yoktur

Etik Beyan

Yazarlar, bu çalışma ile ilgili herhangi bir çıkar çatışması bulunmadığını beyan eder.

Teşekkür

yoktur

Kaynakça

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