Sex estimation based on scapula analysis in a Japanese population using multidetector computed tomography

Abstract

Accurate sex estimation based on measurements of dimorphic dimensions in human unknown remains is important as the first step toward making individual identification. The purpose of this study was to assess the sexual dimorphism of the scapula and to quantify the accuracy of sex estimation in a contemporary Japanese forensic sample using scapular measurements based on three-dimensional (3D) computed tomographic (CT) images. A total of 218 cadavers (109 males, 109 females) that underwent postmortem CT and subsequent forensic autopsy were used. Ten scapular measurements were performed on 3D CT reconstructed images that extracted only bone data, and were analyzed using descriptive statistics and discriminant function analyses (DFA). All measurements were dimorphic in terms of sex differences. Univariate DFA provided sex classification accuracy rates of 75.7–91.3%. Stepwise DFA yielded sex prediction accuracy rates of 93.1–94.5%. In conclusion, the scapular measurements using 3D CT images of a contemporary Japanese population may be useful for the estimation of skeletal sex in the field of forensic anthropology.