Age and sex prediction from Foramen Magnum Morphology and Morphometry Using CT-Scan in a Sample of Upper Egypt Population, Sohag Governorate

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Sohag University

2 Department of Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Sohag University, Sohag, Egypt.

3 Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Aswan University

Abstract

Background: Many studies examined the usefulness of foramen magnum (FM) parameters for sex and age prediction. The aim of the current study is to assess the possibility of using FM shape and size for sex and age prediction in a sample of Upper Egypt population. Methods: The study analyzed cranial CT (computed tomography) scans of 150 individuals (75 males and 75 females), aged <1 to 28. The scans were selected from the PACS (Picture archiving and communication system) database at Sohag University Hospital, Egypt. FM shape was visually examined, and anteroposterior diameter (APD) and transverse diameter (TD) were measured, followed by the calculation of FM index (FMI) and area using the Radinsky formula (area-R) and Teixeira formula (area-T). Results: The study found that the most frequent shapes were hexagonal in females and oval in males. Irregular "a" shape was the most common in the children’s group. Age and sex significantly influenced FM shape. Regarding FM measurements, the children’s group had statistically lower mean values than the adolescents’ and adults’ groups. There was a positive correlation between FM measurements and age in children. Linear regression analysis was used to predict age from FM parameters using regression equations. Males exhibited higher FM measurements than females in the adults’ group; however, the difference was significant only for TD and FMI. Binary logistic regression indicated that TD could predict sex in the adults’ group with a 64% accuracy rate, with higher accuracy for the female sex. Conclusion: FM morphology and morphometry can help determine age in early childhood and sex in adulthood.

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