Determination of Sex From Sternal Dimensions in Upper Egypt Population By Using Multislice Computed Axial Tomography

Sex determination is an important step in personal identification which can be done from bones examination either from their metric measurements or radiograph images especially in difficult identification as dismemberments, mutilations and explosions. The present study was designed to assess the possibility of sex determination from sternal measurements by multislice computed axial tomography (MSCT) and generate statistical equations that can be used to determine sex from sternum in Upper Egypt persons. This study was performed on one hundred and sixty healthy living Upper Egypt persons (80 males and 80 females) of age 18-80 years old during MSCT investigation of the chest region, in department of radiodiagnosis in Assiut University hospital after informed consent. Fourteen sternal measurements were taken including  manubrium length, sternal body length, combined length of the manubrium and  sternal body, sternal index, manubrium width at tip, width and base, sternal body width at articulation with 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th and 6^th ribs and two virtual angles of sternum. First angle lies between two intersected virtual lines made along the lateral aspect of the upper part of the sternal body and the lateral aspect of the manubrium. Second angle lies between two virtual lines drawn along the lateral margins of the lower part of sternal body and xiphoid process. The data were analyzed statistically. Results of this study demonstrated that the male measurements  showed higher statistical significant values than females measurements except sternal index.  Use of the multiple and simple regression equations of relation between sternal measurements and sex demonstrated that the total body length was the most significant parameter for sex prediction. The discriminant function analysis revealed correct sex prediction in known Upper Egyptians by 93%. The multivariant logistic regression can give correct sex prediction in unknown Upper Egyptians by 85.4%.  This study concluded that sex determination can be done through sternal measurements including the virtual sternal angles, the MSCT is a trustful method for bone measurement during forensic investigation and sex prediction from measurements of all sternal parts is higher than those from single part.