Utility of maxilla-mandibular indices for gender determination by using lateral cephalograms

Gender determination is one of the vital aspects in personal identification as it narrows down the diagnosis towards an accurate possibility. A number of body parts and bones are studied and reported to be useful in detecting the gender for forensic purposes.

To assess the utility of maxilla-mandibular indices for gender determination by using lateral cephalograms.

This institutional ethics committee approved retrospective study analyzed 90 randomly selected digital lateral cephalograms. Five linear cephalometric indices: mastoidale to sella-nasion plane (Ma-SN), mastoidale to porion-orbitale plane (Ma-FH), distance between gonion to gnathion (Go-Gn), condylon to gnathion (Co-Gn), condylon to gonion(Co-Gn) were used for gender determination. Statistical significance of linear measurement of Maxillary and Mandibular landmarks in males and females was evaluated by using Mann Whitney test.

Lateral cepholograms of 66 female and 24 male were analyzed for gender discrimination. Amongst the two maxillary indices, Ma-SN was observed to be useful, whereas amongst three Mandibular indices, Co-Go and Co-Gn were found to be useful for the analysis of the discrimination of the gender. However, the utility of Go-Gn and Ma-FH was found to be non-significant.

Maxilla-mandibular indices like Ma-SN, Co-Go and Co-Gn can be utilied for gender determination by using lateral cephalograms.