Correlation of measurements of morphologic points on computed tomography images of occipital bone with sex estimation in an adult Turkish population

Aim: The first step in forensic medicine applications is identification. The most important stage of identification is sex estimation. Today, it is possible to make sex estimation with 100% certainty using DNA analysis. However, forensic anthropological methods should be used in cases where DNA analysis methods are not available or accessible. The aim of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of IOU, LOU, LIU, OKU, OKG, EOPD, AMU, FMU and FMG measurements of the occipital bone by analysing cranial CT sections of adults aged 18- 65 years. Materials and Methods: In our study, the images of individuals aged 18-65 years who applied to Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiology and underwent cranial CT imaging between January 2010 and December 2022 were evaluated retrospectively in 3D. Of the 384 individuals who met our study criteria, 192 were male and 192 were female. IOU, LOU, LİU, LİU, OKU, OKG, EOPD, AMU, FMU and FMG measurements were evaluated using logistic regression analysis. Results: According to the results of our study; 9 different measurements were performed and 4 of these measurements were found to give the most significant results in sex determination. When 9 measurements were evaluated together, it was found to be 82.8% successful in determining male sex and 81.1% successful in determining female sex. When the 4 most significant measurements, FMG, OCD, OCG and EOPD measurements were evaluated together, it was found to be 79.1% successful in determining male sex and 83.3% successful in determining female sex. An overall success rate of 81.2% was obtained using 4 measurements as opposed to an overall success rate of 81.5% using 9 measurements. Conclusions: We can say that FMG, OCG, OCG and EOPD measurements in the occipital bone can be used for sex determination. In the light of these data, we can think that our results found will help the studies in the field of Forensic Medicine.. Although our results were successful, there is a need to create a large database for our country with studies with a higher sample value in which larger populations are included because of the differences in gender dimorphism according to geographical regions.