Sex Determination from the Sterrnum- A Computed Tomography Based Forensic Approach

Background: Sex Determination is an important aspect in forensic science for establishing a biological profile of unidentified deceased individuals. The study uses the sternum, an alternative bone, to determine sex with the help of Sternal CT images. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at a medical institution in Karnataka and included 146 CT images of the sternum. Various sternal measurements were recorded and statistically analyzed using Student’s t-test, univariate logistic regression, and Receiver Operating characteristic curve analysis to determine sex and to identify the most reliable parameter(s) in the Karnataka population. Results: The findings exhibited significance (p = <0.001) for all linear measurements, indicating high sexual dimorphism. All measurements were higher in males, except the sternal index, which was found to be higher in females. Among the studied parameters, CL was found to have the highest discriminatory power with an AUC of 0.926, indicating the most reliable parameter to determine sex, followed by MW in the Karnataka population. The SI demonstrated reverse-direction discrimination with an AUC of 0.393. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that CT-based morphometric analysis is a non-invasive and reliable technique to determine sex and can be applied effectively in forensic science practices.