Assessment of Foramen Magnum and Posterior Cranial Fossa in Sex Determination using Computed Tomography (CT) Scan: A Retrospective study

INTRODUCTION: Sex determination is a pivotal step in forensic odontology. In human skeletal structures, sexual dimorphism is expressed as variations in both size and shape. AIM: To evaluate sexual dimorphism of foramen magnum & posterior cranial fossae using Computed Tomography (CT). OBJECTIVES: To measure the Morphological variation in shape, Antero-Posterior Diameter, Transverse Diameter & Surface area of the foramen magnum the Height, Antero-Posterior diameter, Transverse Diameter& Volume of Posterior Cranial Fossa using CT scan. To evaluate sexual dimorphism of foramen magnum & Posterior cranial fossa using computed tomography (CT) Scan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was done on 150 patients CT collected from the Department of Radiology, Vivekanandha Medical Care Hospital & Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Vivekanandha Dental College for Women and divided into 2 Group (Age group of 18-60 years individuals). STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Descriptive statistical analysis was performed. Comparison among group I, II, was done with the help of Independent sample t-test & analysis of variance test was done using (SPSS version 16.0) software. p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULT: Antero Posterior Diameter 38. ± 3.91mm in males 35.6 ± 4.36mm in females and FMTD Transverse diameter Mean value 33.1.± 3.15mm in males 30.62 ± 3.34mm in females & Surface Area (FMSA) 4043.36 ± 711.71 in males 3498.8 ± 704.96 in females. Shape of foramen magnum (Egg -5%, Hexagonal-20%, Irregular-15%, Oval-17%, Pentagonal-17%, Round-2%, Tetragonal-24%, in males; Egg -10%, Hexagonal-21%, Irregular-17%, Oval-13%, Pentagonal-23%, Round-1%, Tetragonal-15%, in females). Mean value of Posterior Cranial Fossa: Height (43.11 ± 4.14 mm in males and 40.06 ± 4.12 mm in females). Antero –Posterior (75.78 ± 5.89 mm in males and 72.26 ± 4.50 mm in females) Transverse Diameter 111.46 ± 5.37 mm in males and 108.26 ± 6.18mm in females. The volume of PCF was 181996.6 ± 36897.9 mm in males and 157462.9 ± 23839.4mm in females. All these measurements were statistically significant (p