Radiological Evaluation of Odontoid Process Volume by Using Digital Three-Dimensional (3D) Modeling for Sex and Age Estimation: A Retrospective Cone Beam Computed Tomography Study

Odontoid process is a very important anatomical structure for the craniovertebral junction.The first purpose of this study is to demonstrate that age and sex-dependent differences in odontoid process volume in a Turkish population can be defined, visualized, and measured using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).The second aim is to evaluate the sex and age dimorphism degree of the odontoid process.And the third aim is to develop volume-based discrimination formulas.CBCT images of 150 people (75 females, 75 males, age range 12-73 years, mean age 27.34 years) were retrospectively analyzed.The odontoid process volumes were measured using InVivo Dental software.It was found that males had a statistically higher odontoid process volume than females (p = 0.001).Statistically, a decrease in odontoid process volume was detected with age (p <0.0001).The mean odontoid process volume split point was <1745 mm3 for females and > 2733 mm3 for males.According to discriminant function analysis, 73.3 % females and 42.7 % males in total were correctly classified.According to the group centroid scores, values ??less than -0,601 indicate individuals over the age of 45, while values greater than 0.143 indicate individuals in the 12-18 age group.In total, 94.7 % of 12-18 age group and 8 % of 45 years and older individuals were correctly classified.According to the results obtained from this study, sex and age discriminant scores were moderate.However, the results of the present study show that odontoid process volume has strong potential to predict the under-18 age and older.