Radio-anatomical examination from foramen transversarium of first cervical vertebra for sex estimation

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study is to determine the sex of the first cervical vertebra, which is one of the best known bones in the columna vertebralis. Materials and methods: A total of 284 cases were examined in this study in which cases were 200 neck computed tomography (CT) examinations (100 female and 100 male) and 84 cases were dry atlas bones. First of all, six parameters were used while measuring the distance between both medial and lateral edge of the transverse foramen which belongs to adult male's and female's CT images. Then by taking the averages of them and two more other parameters (FTMAVG-FTLAVG) were obtained. Results: In our radio-anatomic study, by examining parameters of the for using ROC analysis, it was found that, the cut-off value of FTMAVG was 4.64 cm and the cut-off value of FTLAVG was 5.92 cm. Then these data were applied to 84 dry atlas bones whose sex were unknown. Conclusions: In conclusion, it was assessed that, with the cut-off values found by measuring the distance between both medial and lateral edge of the transverse foramen. The accuracy of sex estimation in CT images by FTMAVG cut-off was 76% while it was 80% for FTLAVG. As a result of this study sex estimation can be made in atlas bones with a 78.8% accuracy in the unknown sexs.

Keywords

• Transverse foramen
• First cervical vertebra
• Atlas
• Sex estimation
• Computed tomography