The use of hyoid bone dimensions in age and sex estimation in a Turkish population: a cone-beam computed tomography study

BACKGROUND

The aim of the study was to determine sex and age from hyoid bone morphology on cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study sample compromised 130 CBCT images. Eight different measurements were performed for each hyoid bone. Fusion conditions were assigned to each side of the hyoid bone separately as; unfused, partially fused, and total fused.

RESULTS

The Hyoid length (Hyd-L), width of the left proximal end (LP-W) and stature variables showed sexual dimorphism in all hyoid fusion types (p < 0.05). In young adult age group, a significant difference was found between sex and fusion types (p = 0.025). The body length (B-L) (81.35%) and stature measurements (76.25%) contributed most significantly to sex estimation.

CONCLUSIONS

Patient's CBCT scans which enable reproducible and reliable measurements for bone tissues, can be used for forensic procedures. Hyoid bone measurements with CBCT are useful methodology for age and sex estimation in forensic sciences with high accuracy predictive rates.

The effect of type 2 diabetes mellitus on changes in the fractal dimension of periapical lesion in teeth after root canal treatment: a fractal analysis study

AIM

This single-centre retrospective case-control study evaluated fractal dimension (FD) changes in radiographs of periapical lesions using a fractal analysis in healthy individuals and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients following root canal treatment.

METHODOLOGY

The study data consisted of two groups: the DM group which contained a total of 46 mandibular molar teeth in 37 patients with no systemic disease other than type 2 DM, and the control group which contained a total of 52 mandibular molar teeth in 41 patients without systemic disease. Periapical radiographs were obtained prior to root canal treatment and 1 year post-treatment. Fractal analysis was performed by selecting a region of interest on the periapical radiographs. For both groups, the FD changes in lesion area were calculated and compared. In addition, periapical status was evaluated using the periapical index (PAI) scores on periapical radiographs for both groups. Data were analysed using dependent-sample t-test, independent-sample t-test, Wilcoxon signed-rank test and Mann-Whitney U-test.

RESULTS

In both groups, FD values were increased significantly 1 year post-treatment as compared with those prior to treatment (P < 0.05). The time-dependent increase in FD was significantly greater in the control group (P < 0.05). Time-dependent increases in FD did not differ between genders (P > 0.05). There was a significant decrease in PAI scores in both type 2 DM and control groups depending on time (P < 0.05). No significant difference was found between the groups in terms of time-related decreases in PAI scores (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

An increase in the FD of the periapical lesion area was observed 1 year after root canal treatment. DM had a negative effect on FD increase.