Prediction of Sex from Patellar Parameters Obtained by Magnetic Resonance Imaging in a Sample of Adult Egyptians

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Egypt.

2 Diagnostic and interventional radiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Egypt.

Abstract

Background: Patella resists taphonomic conditions and is commonly found as a complete bone after death. Thus, it gained attention as an identification tool, particularly with the advent of modern radiological modalities. Objectives: verifying the accuracy of using patellar parameters obtained by Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as sex predictors in a sample of adult Egyptians. Methodology: The study was conducted on 120 right knee MRI scans of Egyptians aged 18-60 years old (60 males and 60 females) obtained from Radiodiagnosis department, Alexandria Main University Hospital. six patellar measurements were taken (craniocaudal length “CCL”, patellar width “PW”, patellar thickness “PT”, patellar lateral facet width “PLFW”, patellar facet thickness “PFT”, and patellar angle “PA”) then three ratios were calculated (Patellar lateral facet ratio “PLFR”, Patellar relative thickness “PRT”, Patellar facet thickness ratio “PFTR”). Results: All measurements were significantly higher in males than females whereas, none of the calculated ratios were significantly different between males and females. Both logistic regression models and Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analyses denoted that the highest accuracy for sex prediction was achieved using CCL (accuracy 86.7%, Area Under Curve ‘AUC’=0.911) followed by PW (accuracy 85%, AUC=0.898) then PLFW (accuracy 79.2%, AUC= 0.855). The best result for sex identification was obtained when significant parameters were included in the same analyses (accuracy 88.4%, AUC= 0.942). Conclusion: patellar parameters obtained from MRI scans could be used as a reliable sex predictor among adult Egyptians.

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