Sex dependent variations in craniofacial soft-tissue thicknesses estimated from MRI and CT scans: A pilot study based on Northwest Indian subjects

Abstract

Craniofacial identification is a technique for prediction and recreation of life-like appearances of an individual, recreated onto an unknown skull on the basis of intricate relationship existing between underlying bony contour and the overlying soft tissues, muscles and skin. Tissue thicknesses in different population have wide variations due to disparities in nutritional, environmental or genetical factors. The physical health, nutritional status and disease activity of an individual have significant and detectable influences on both the complex anatomy of facial skeleton as well as soft tissue depths. Present study was conducted on 50 MRI and 53 CT normal scans of 64 male and 39 female Northwest Indian adult subjects who reported to radio-imaging diagnostic centres for some clinical and therapeutic reasons. Soft-tissue thickness was estimated at 33 craniofacial landmarks on both MRI and CT scans using OsiriX v 6.0.2 64 bit software and Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) format images. MRI scans were found comparatively better and more reliable mean of estimating tissue depths and for sex estimations. Statistically significant sex differences were noticed in tissue depths at various craniofacial landmarks. The endocanthion was found the best sex discriminating variable from both types of scans. MRI and CT scan estimated tissue thicknesses could identify sex of 96% and 85%, subjects, respectively. Secular increase in tissue depths was observed to support the increased trend of obesity in present day population of the area when compared with similar studies conducted few decades earlier. Present study results can be a valuable adjunct for forensic anthropological facial reconstructions and experts of diverse medical disciplines.