Morphometric Evaluation of Foramen Magnum and its Shape Variations using Computed Tomographic Images of Normal Adults

Abstract

Background and aims Skull morphology plays a key role in determining gender in medico-legal cases. Computed Tomography CT measurements of foramen magnum are useful in estimating gender. In this study sagittal diameter transverse diameter and area of foramen magnum were correlated. Also different variations in the shape of foramen magnum were evaluated using computed tomography.Methods This study was conducted using CT Brain Scan images of individuals belonging to both the genders in the age group of 18 to 85 years. Morphometry of foramen magnum sagittal diameter transverse diameter area of foramen magnum measurements and different shapes of foramen magnum were estimated on CT images using a 3D program on the CT workstation and were correlated against gender.Result In this study sagittal diameter of foramen magnum was 33.5 plusmn 2.9 mm among males and 31.4 plusmn 3.2 mm among females. Transverse diameter was found to be 29.1 plusmn 3.3 mm in males and 26.7plusmn3.7 mm in females. Area of foramen magnum was measured to be 642 plusmn 94.2 mm in males and 559.9 plusmn 115.5 mm in females. All the variables showed significant higher values in males than in females.Conclusion Based on the findings of this study conducted using CT scan images the foramen magnums diameter and area demonstrated a high degree of precision in gender identification. The results of this study could be used to identify human remains if other identifying techniques were unsuccessful.