title: Assessment of sex from endocranial cavity using volume-rendered CT scans in a sample from Medellín, Colombia.
abstract: Sex estimation is a primary component of the identification of skeletonized individuals in forensic anthropology. The goal of this research was to develop a new method for estimating sex based on measurements of the endocranial cavity by means of volumetric 3D reconstruction of computed tomography (CT) without contrast. The sample consisted of 249 healthy individuals of both sexes whose tomographies were taken by the imaging unit at the San Vicente de Paul University Hospital in Medellin, Colombia. Sixteen measurements (twelve were designed for this study) of each individual's endocranial base were taken and then used to create formulae via logistic regression, thereby yielding a 89.7% overall sex classification accuracy for the general equation. The measurements showing the greatest degree of sexual dimorphism were the maximum width of the basal occipital portion, the maximum width of the foramen magnum, and the maximum distance between foramina ovalia. This study represents the first physical anthropology study of this population.
authors.affiliation: Physical Anthropology Lab, School of Medicine, Granada University [Universidad de Granada], Avenida de Madrid 11, 18012, Granada, Spain; GIEBSCUERPO Research Group, Human and Social Sciences Department, Antioquia University [Universidad de Antioquia], Calle 67 No. 53-108 Bloque 9, Medellin, Colombia. Electronic address: csjulianaip@antares.udea.edu.co.
authors.forename: Juliana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Isaza
authors.affiliation: Radiology Unit, San Vicente de Paul University Hospital [Hospital Universitario San Vicente de Paúl], Calle 64 N°5D-154, Medellin, Colombia. Electronic address: cadiazp@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Carlos Alberto
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Díaz
authors.affiliation: Radiology Unit, San Vicente de Paul University Hospital [Hospital Universitario San Vicente de Paúl], Calle 64 N°5D-154, Medellin, Colombia. Electronic address: johnbedoya1981@gmail.com.
authors.forename: John Fernando
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Bedoya
authors.affiliation: GIEBSCUERPO Research Group, Human and Social Sciences Department, Antioquia University [Universidad de Antioquia], Calle 67 No. 53-108 Bloque 9, Medellin, Colombia. Electronic address: timisay@antares.udea.edu.co.
authors.forename: Timisay
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Monsalve
authors.affiliation: Physical Anthropology Lab, School of Medicine, Granada University [Universidad de Granada], Avenida de Madrid 11, 18012, Granada, Spain. Electronic address: mbotella@ugr.es.
authors.forename: Miguel C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Botella
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002508:Cephalometry; D003105:Colombia; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D018732:Forensic Anthropology; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D054881:Sex Determination by Skeleton / Q000379:methods*; D012886:Skull / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
keywords: Colombian population; Endocranial cavity; Logistic regression; Sex estimation; Sexual dimorphism; Volume-rendered computerized tomography