Sex estimation in a Chilean population by mandibular analysis in cone beam computed tomography images

Sex estimation is the first stage in the identification of an individual in the forensic context, and can be carried out from bone structures like the mandible. The aim of this study was to estimate sex from metric analysis of the mandible in cone beam computed tomography images (CBCT) of adult Chilean individuals.

Six mandibular measurements were analysed, five linear and one angular, in CBCT of adult Chilean individuals of both sexes. ROC Curve analysis was performed, with cut-off points, and of the overall model quality. Univariate discriminant function analysis was used to determine the accuracy of each measurement for sex estimation. Multivariate discriminant function analysis, both directly and by steps, was used to obtain the predictive value of the mandible including all the measurements.

The data included were 155 CBCT, 105 of females and 50 of males. The mandible presented great sexual dimorphism, with the mandibular ramus presenting greater predictive power than the mandibular body. When each mandibular measurement was analysed separately, the maximum height of the mandibular ramus presented the greatest predictive power (76.5%), while the mandibular angle was the least accurate parameter for sex estimation (58.1%). Direct method analysis presented 87.1% accuracy for sex identification of adult Chilean individuals, and joint analysis of maximum mandibular ramus height (MRH), corono-condylar distance and bigonial breadth presented 86.5% accuracy. In ROC Curve analysis the MRH was the variable with the greatest discriminating capacity (AUC = 0.833), MA was the only variable which presented no discriminating capacity (AUC = 0.386) and also presented low quality in model quality analysis.

Metric analysis of the mandible in CBCT images presents an acceptable accuracy for sex estimation in Chilean individuals, and its use for that purpose in forensic practice is recommended.