Oblique line contrast (W-index) in sex determination analysis: a panoramic radiograph study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.2176-7262.rmrp.2025.226486Keywords:
Bone density, Mandible, Panoramic radiograph, Sex determination analysis, Forensic sciencesAbstract
Objective. Sex identification is the first step in the human identification process and can be achieved using panoramic radiographs. Hence, this research objective was to evaluate the usefulness of oblique line contrast (W-Index-WI), determined by pixel intensity from panoramic radiographs, in differentiating young health males from young health females. Methods. A total of 335 panoramic radiographs from health participants (age range 18 to 23 years old) were selected. The oblique line contrast was determined using pixel intensity at the area of the oblique line and its adjacent portion. The W index formula was applied, and the values obtained were compared and tested for accuracy. Results. From the 335 panoramic images evaluated, 156 were men (mean age 20.25+ 3.34) e 179 were women (mean age 20.53+ 1.52). For the male group, the mean WI values (considering the right and left sides) were significantly higher than WI values for females (WI: 0.889 +0.0317 and 0.876+0.0359 respectively; p<0.001). Conclusions. The WI is valuable in distinguishing young health men from young health women in panoramic radiographs and has the potential to function as a cost-effective index for sex identification in the field of Forensic Sciences.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Luciana Munhoz, Vanderlei César Brandão Junior, Alan Grupioni Lourenço, Plauto Christopher Aranha Watanabe
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