Determination of sexual dimorphism in mandible and crania using lateral cephalogram and Postero-anterior radiograph among indian population

The determination of gender of unknown persons is of vital importance in forensic investigations, mainly when only the skull remains. Standardized radiographic techniques like cephalometry have advantages of being more precise and objective when compared to morphologic methods. The present study aimed at obtaining and comparing the reliability of cranio-mandibular parameters in Indian populations using digital lateral cephalograms and posterio- anterior radiographs. A total of 306 individuals comprising 150 males and 156 females, aged 18-30years were considered. Lateral cephalogram and postero-anterior digital radiographs were obtained. For lateral cephaograms measurements were made for mandibular body length, mandibular length and mandibular height. Mandibular bigonial and bizygomatic distance were determined on postero-anterior view with the help of Adobe Photoshop CS3 extended software. Logistic regression analysis was carried out to determine the accuracy of sex. Bizygomatic width and mandibular length contributed most for sexual dimorphism in the populations and obtained accuracy of 86.3% with bizygomatic and 82% with mandibular height. Thus cephalometric cranio-mandibular parameters can be used effectively to discriminate the sex using logistic regression analysis in Indian population.