title: Sex estimation using computed tomography of the mandible.
abstract: Sex estimation of skeletal parts is of great value even in the DNA era. When computed tomography (CT) facilities were introduced to forensic institutes, new possibilities for sex estimation emerged. The aim of this study was to develop a CT-based method for sex estimation using the mandible. Twenty-five CT-based measurements of the mandible were developed and carried out on 3D reconstructions (volume rendering) and cross sections of the lower jaw of 438 adult individuals (214 males and 224 females). Intraobserver and interobserver variances of the measurements were examined using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) analysis. Five discriminant functions were developed using different states of completeness of the mandible. The success rates of these equations were cross validated twice. The measurements were found to be highly reliable (for intraobserver 0.838 < ICC < 0.995 and for interobserver 0.71 < ICC < 0.996). For a complete mandible, the correct classification rate was 90.8%. For incomplete mandibles, the correct classification rates varied from 72.9 to 85.6%. Cross-validation tests yielded similar success rates, for the complete mandible 89% and for the incomplete mandible 67.5 to 89%. We concluded that CT techniques are appropriate for estimating sex based on the mandible size and shape characteristics. Suggested discriminant functions for sex estimation are given with data on the correct classification rates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Anthropology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, 6997801, Ramat Aviv, Israel.|The Maurice and Gabriela Goldschleger School of Dental Medicine, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, 6997801, Ramat Aviv, Israel.|Shmunis Family Anthropology Institute, The Dan David Center for Human Evolution and Biohistory Research, the Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, Tel-Aviv University, 6997801, Ramat Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Tanya Sella
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Tunis
authors.affiliation: The Maurice and Gabriela Goldschleger School of Dental Medicine, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, 6997801, Ramat Aviv, Israel.|Shmunis Family Anthropology Institute, The Dan David Center for Human Evolution and Biohistory Research, the Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, Tel-Aviv University, 6997801, Ramat Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sarig
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Anthropology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, 6997801, Ramat Aviv, Israel.|National Center of Forensic Medicine, 67 Ben-Zvi Road, 6108401, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel.
authors.forename: Haim
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Anthropology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, 6997801, Ramat Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Bahaa
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Medlej
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Carmel Medical Center, Haifa, Israel.|The Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Nathan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Peled
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Anthropology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, 6997801, Ramat Aviv, Israel. mayhila@post.tau.ac.il.|Shmunis Family Anthropology Institute, The Dan David Center for Human Evolution and Biohistory Research, the Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, Tel-Aviv University, 6997801, Ramat Aviv, Israel. mayhila@post.tau.ac.il.
authors.forename: Hila
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: May
mesh_terms: D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D005260:Female; D018732:Forensic Anthropology / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D054881:Sex Determination by Skeleton / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
keywords: CT; Discriminant function; Mandible; Sex estimation