Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38742571›Full record

SynthesisThe Journal of forensic odonto-stomatology2024

Are computed tomography images of the mandible useful in age and sex determination? A forensic science meta-analysis.

L Munhoz, S Okada, M Hisatomi, Y Yanagi, E S Arita, J Asaumi

Abstract readMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in The Journal of forensic odonto-stomatology, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. The current state of forensic imaging - post mortem imaging.International journal of legal medicine · 2025
    Review
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

L MunhozDepartment of Stomatology, São Paulo University Dentistry School, Brazil.
S OkadaDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Okayama University Hospital, Japan.
M HisatomiDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Okayama University Hospital, Japan.
Y YanagiDepartment of Dental Informatics, Okayama University, Japan.
E S AritaDepartment of Stomatology, São Paulo University Dentistry School, Brazil.
J AsaumiDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Okayama University Hospital, Japan.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesThis meta-analysis addresses the use of mandibular computed tomography (CT) scans for age and/or sex determination in forensic science.

methodsSix databases were searched until June 2023, using the keyword "mandible" combined with keywords related to "multislice computed tomography" (MCT) or "cone-beam computed tomography" (CBCT) and keywords related to "skeletal age determination" or "sex determination analysis." MAIN

resultsAmong the 23 studies included, 11 used MCT and 12 used CBCT to perform forensic assessments. Age determination was the aim of a single study, sex and agedeterminations were the objective of five studies, and the other studies investigated the determination of sex only. Metaanalysis could be performed only for sex determination.

conclusionsMandible measurements are useful in sex determination, as the bicondylar and bigonial breadth are larger in males than in females. For the mandible angle, the meta-analysis results confirm sex dimorphism in CBCT scans but not in MCT scans. For age estimation, further studies are needed to prove that the mandible hole is a reliable parameter for age estimation. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42021260967.

Indexed as

Age Determination by SkeletonCone-Beam Computed TomographyMandibleSex Determination by SkeletonForensic AnthropologyHumansMultidetector Computed TomographyComputed tomographyForensic AnthropologyHuman IdentificationJawMandible

Identifiers

PMID38742571
PMCPMC11154091

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.