Sex estimation by morphometric analysis of the intracranial volume and foramen magnum on three-dimensional volume rendering computed tomography

Yıl 2025, Cilt: 18 Sayı: 2, 2 - 2

Ayşe Kurtuluş Dereli , Ergin Sağtaş , Alper Akça , Hakan Abdullah Özgül , Hande Şenol , Kemalettin Acar

https://doi.org/10.31362/patd.1535671

Öz

Purpose: Identification of decomposed human bodies and bone remains is very important in medicolegal examinations. The cranium has an important place in sex estimation due to its dimorphic features. Recent studies in this field have used radiological methods. The present study aimed to examine sexual dimorphism through morphometric analysis of the intracranial volume and Foramen Magnum on Three-Dimensional (3D) Volume Rendering Computed Tomography (CT) images.
Materials and methods: For this purpose, 3D images were generated after the reconstruction of CT Angiography scans of 87 female and 107 male cases. The length, width, circumference, area, and intracranial volume of the foramen magnum were measured on these 3D images.
Results: All measurements except foramen magnum index were greater in males than in females (p<0.05). The single best sex-discriminatory measurement was intracranial volume, with an accuracy rate of 84.5%. The best sex-discriminatory parameter in foramen magnum measurements was the length of the foramen magnum, with a rate of 74.2%. Intracranial volume was positively correlated with foramen magnum parameters in males (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Three-dimensional volume rendering CT images showed sexual dimorphism in the intracranial volume and foramen magnum. The use of radiological methods in forensic investigations may allow for examinations of decomposed human bodies without the need for maceration procedures. It may also help create databases by examining population-specific differences in today's societies.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Volume rendering CT, 3D modeling, foramen magnum, intracranial volume, sex estimation

Etik Beyan

Ethical approval: Permission was obtained from Pamukkale University Non-Interventional Clinical Research Ethics Committee for the study (27.10.2020- E-60116787-020-3505). All procedures performed in studies were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Volume rendered bilgisayarlı tomografi görüntülerinde intrakranial hacim ve foramen magnum morfometrik analizinden cinsiyetin değerlendirilmesi

Öz

Amaç: Medikolegal incelemelerde çürümüş cesetlerde ve kemik kalıntılarında kimliklendirme çok önemlidir. Kranium dimorfik özelliklere sahip olduğu için cinsiyet tahmininde önemli yer tutar. Son zamanlarda bu alandaki araştırmalarda radyolojik yöntemlerin kullanıldığı görülmektedir. Bu çalışmada Volume Rendered Bilgisayarlı Tomografi 3B görüntülerinde intrakranial hacim ve Foramen Magnum morfometrik analizinden seksüel dimorfizmin araştırılması amaçlanmıştır.
Gereç ve yöntem: Bu amaçla 87 kadın ve 107 erkek olguya ait BT Anjiografi görüntülerinden rekonstrüksiyon sonrası üç boyutlu (3B) görüntüler elde edilmiştir. Elde edilen görüntülerde foramen magnum uzunluğu, genişliği, çevresi, alanı ve intrakranial hacim ölçülmüştür.
Bulgular: Foramen magnum indeksi dışındaki tüm ölçümlerin erkeklerde kadınlarda daha büyük olduğu görülmüştür (p<0,05). Cinsiyeti tek başına en iyi ayırt eden ölçüm %84,5 doğruluk oranı ile intrakranial hacimdi. Foramen magnum ölçümlerinde cinsiyeti en iyi ayırt eden parametre ise %74,2 oranı ile foramen magnum uzunluğuydu. İntrakraniyal hacim erkeklerde foramen magnum parametreleri ile pozitif bir korelasyon gösterdi (p<0,05).
Sonuç: Volume rendered BT 3B görüntülerinde intrakranial hacim ve foramen magnumda cinsel dimorfizm olduğu görülmüştür. Radyolojik yöntemlerin adli incelemelerde kullanılması çürümüş cesetlerde maserasyon işlemlerine gerek kalmadan incelemelerin yapılmasına olanak sağlayabilir. Ayrıca günümüz toplumlarındaki popülasyona özgü farklılıkların araştırılarak veri tabanlarının oluşturulmasına yardımcı olabilir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Volume rendering BT, 3B modelleme, foramen magnum, intrakranial hacim, cinsiyet tahmini

Kaynakça

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