Morphometric study of sternum by computed tomography in an Iranian population: A method to discriminate between male and female

Abstract

• Sternum parameters can be considered significant factors in discriminating male and female. • Significant differences were evident between manubrium, body and xiphoid process of sternum in male and female. • Sternum area and combined length of manubrium and body are two of the most important sternum parameters which can discriminate between male and female with an accuracy of more than 90%. In this study, morphometric parameters of sternum were investigated by computed tomography (CT) in an Iranian population in order to determine the efficient parameters for discrimination of males and females. This cross-sectional retrospective study investigated chest CT scans of 98 patients (49 males and 49 females) aged from 20-89 years old. Images were reconstructed into desired sagittal and coronal planes for measuring the length, width, and thickness of manubrium, body and xiphoid process. Derived parameters were also investigated. Independent sample t-test and discriminant function analyses for sex discrimination were performed in SPSS. Significant differences between males and females were evident in manubrium, body, and xiphoid process of sternum parameters (P=0.005) except xiphoid process thickness. Stepwise analysis with three variables showed 94.2% sex discrimination accuracy with 5.8% sex bias. Sternum area and combined length of manubrium and body were two of the most important derived parameters which can discriminate between males and females with an accuracy of more than 90%. This study showed that morphometric analysis of sternum by CT can readily distinguish between males and females. Authors believe that the most accurate parameter in sex discrimination is sternum area with accuracy of 92.3% and sex bias of 2.4%.