Sex Determination by Analyzing Morphometrics of Sella Turcica, Foramen Magnum and Mastoid Process Using Head and Neck Multislice Computed Tomography in Egyptian Population

Abstract Background Identification of unknown individuals is fundamental in forensic studies, and is based upon the determination of sex, age, ethnicity and stature of individuals. Sella turcica, Foramen magnum and Mastoid processes can be used in forensic medicine to aid sex identification of living humans and their remains in severe conditions as mass disasters due to their position in the basicranium, which has a resistant nature and is a commonly preserved part of the human skeleton. Aim This study aimed to analyze and compare the parameters of the Sella Turcica, Foramen magnum and Mastoid processes for sex determination in adult and child Egyptian samples. Methods This is a Comparative cross-sectional study involving 120 Egyptian patients divided into 60 Adult cases and 60 Children cases, conducted in Radiology department - Ain Shams University Hospitals in Cairo, Egypt during the period from the beginning of August 2021 to the end of July 2022. Each group is subdivided into 30 males and 30 females. The Sella turcica, Foramen magnum and Mastoid processes parameters in multislice Computed Tomography (MSCT) scans were measured in all the cases, and findings were tabulated. Results The current study showed a significant statistical difference between males and females in adult cases as regards the anterior-posterior (A-P) diameter of sella turcica, the maximum width of the foramen magnum (FMW), the foramen magnum area (FMA), the maximum length of the right occipital condyle (LROC), the maximum length of the left occipital condyle (LLOC) and the mastoid area (P value<0.05). In children cases there was a significant statistical difference between males and females as regards the Sella turcica length, the Sella turcica depth, (A-P) diameter of Sella turcica, the maximum foramen magnum length (FML), FMA and LLOC (P value<0.05). the present study showed that the best single parameter in determining the sex of adult cases is mastoid area, and in children cases is FML. Conclusion A-P diameter of sella turcica, FMW, FMA, LROC, LLOC and mastoid area are more efficient than other parameters in determining the sex of adult cases, while the Sella turcica length, depth and A-P diameter, FML, FMA and LLOC are more efficient than other parameters in determining the sex of children cases. Recommendation Further studies are needed to assess the correlation of the Sella turcica, Foramen magnum and Mastoid process parameters with age and other ethnic groups with a larger sample size.