AIIMS Bhopal makes sex-determination of disaster victims possible

BHOPAL: Researchers in AIIMS Bhopal have made inroads into sex determination through CT scan by measuring the dimensions of sternal bone. The sternal area values that give an accuracy of over 80% was achieved for sex determination. The tests would be helpful in sex-determination of victims following a natural disasters or train and flight accidents or even fire.

The outcome, a part of a research work by a postgraduate student in the department of forensic medicine, was carried out by Dr J S Sravan. In this research study, chest CT-scans of 250 adults were diagnosed in the ‘sternum’ bone (located in middle of the front chest wall). The main purpose of the study was to find out whether sex determination is possible by measuring dimensions of the sternum bone on a CT scan. Several dimensions of ‘sternal bone’ using the ‘3D’ rendering technique of CT scan, official said.

“The results of this research work look very promising. The researchers were able to determine the sex of an individual with about 80% accuracy,” AIIMS Bhopal official said.

This application of this study could prove very useful in sex-determination during, mass disasters such as train wreck, flight accidents, fires explosions, natural calamities among others. It may also be particularly useful in advanced decomposed or exhumed bodies where the usual methods of sex determination are not very effective.

“We are looking to develop this further at our institute to help people with quicker autopsy related procedure and lesser ail times before clearance for last-rites. The sub-specialty of Forensic Radiology is emerging at AIIMS Bhopal and is the first in Central Region of the country,” he added.