The evaluation of morphologic and morphometriic characteristics of fourth costae along with age and gender-related changes by the help of multislice computed tomography

In this reseaarch we aimed to evaluate the characteristics of the fourth costae along with the age related changes by the help of Multislice Computed Tomography(MSCT). The research was done from the measurements of MSCT images of 20 to 70 years old of 259 people. The participants were examined in two groups as men and women. 156 women and 133 men, total of 259 people were taken into consideration. The participants were chosen from healthy people who did not have any disease of the spine and sternal region, congenital anomalies, history of trauma or surgery and any malignant disease or metastasis due to malignant diseases. Taking advantage of chest CT images of the morphological characteristics of fourth costae and its combining vertebrae, the angulation of the left and right fourth costae, the distance between the sternum and vertebrae, the distance between the left and right costae,the distance between the ends of the each left and right fourth costae and the depth of both costae was measured and some other parameters like age and gender were added and a total of 10 parameters were evaluated. The analyzes of results, the average angulation of the right fourth costae in women 139.05±5.35 degree, in men 137,54±5.62 degree, the distance between the ends of the right costae in women was 96.54±17.08 milimeter, in men was 108.16±18.15 milimeter, the depth of the costae in women was 82.34±9.10 milimeter, in men was as 90.82±10.84 milimeter. The average angulation of the left fourth costae in women 139.41±6.13 degree, in men 115.02±62.79 degree, the distance between the ends of the left costae in women was 97.18±16.34 milimeter, in men was 108.16±18.15 milimeter, the depth of the costae in women was 81.62±10.15 milimeter, in men was 90.61±10.71 milimeter. The distance between the sternum and vertebrae was 78.50±14.38 milimeter in women, 89.67±15.99 milimeter in men, the distance between the left and right costae was 198.77±20.5 milimeter in women and 219.95±19.36 milimetre in men. In sex determination, the morphologic characteristics of the fourth costae especially the measurements of the right costae, the distances between the sternum, vertebrae, right and left costae were found to be statistically significant. Based on our research, the morphological and morphometric characteristics could show individual differences and we think that the standard rules should be applied for each population. Keywords: Costae, morphometric analysis, gender, identification, MSCT