Determination of Sexual Dimorphism Using Lateral Cephalogram-A Radiographic Study

Determination of sex of a subject is one of the most important aspect of medicolegal cases and other anthropological research. In identification of sex from a demolished skull, lateral cephalogram takes a predominant role, as they provide the architectural and morphological details that reveals multiple points for comparison. Aim of the study is to determine sexual dimorphism by discriminant function analysis by using lateral Cephalometric radiography.

The study population consisted 120 subjects comprising of 60 female and 60 male with in age range of 25 to 55 years. Lateral skull view of each subject was taken on digital panoramic and cephalometric system. Data was subjected to discriminant function analysis for determination of sex of the subject.

The mean Length of G-OP, BA-ANS was found to be 170.8±6.5, 110.7±8.9 in males and 165.9±6.6, 103.8±10 in females respectively and was statistically significant with p-value of about <0.001. The mean value of N-ANS length was found to be 50.12±7.4 in males and 47.53±3.3 in females and was statistically significant with p value of 0.003. The mean value of N-M, BA-N length was found to be 110.8±17.9, 115.7±9.3 in males and 119.5±9.1, 112.6±19.1 in females and was statistically insignificant with p value of 0.399, 0.612 respectively. In our study G-OP was the best classifier between male and female with percentage of about 69.8% followed by MA-SN with percentage of 67.6% and NA-ANS with 64.8%.

Based on the results of the present study Radiographic cephalometric technique and discriminant function analysis is a useful technique to determine sex from skull and is less expensive and readily available tool in forensic investigations for sex identification from skull.