Stature estimation based on vertical measurements of the skull using three-dimensional images from postmortem computed tomography in a Japanese population

Abstract

We aimed to evaluate the correlation between stature and vertical skull measurements based on three-dimensional (3D) computed tomography (CT) images, develop a stature estimation formula, and validate it in a Japanese population. The “training” and “validation” datasets consisted of 275 and 49 identified individuals who underwent postmortem CT. Two skull measurements, the linear distances from the basion to the bregma (Basion–Bregma) and the posterior nasal spine to the bregma (PNS–Bregma), were obtained from 3D CT images that solely extracted cranial data. Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients assessed stature-skull correlations. Multiple regression analysis was performed to assess whether stature was dependent on sex. A stature estimation formula was developed based on the regression analysis. Validation tests were performed for each formula. Significant correlations were observed between stature and skull measurements. The correlation coefficients were 0.790 for stature and Basion–Bregma, and 0.782 for stature and PNS–Bregma. Sex status was statistically significant as an independent variable in regression analysis and influences the estimation of stature. For the stature estimation formula, the coefficient of determination adjusted for the degree of freedom (R*²) was 0.730, and the standard error of estimation (SEE) was 5.55 cm when using three variables: sex status, Basion–Bregma, and PNS–Bregma. The validation test exhibited high reliability; mean error (MA) = 0.10 cm and mean absolute error (MAE) = 4.64 cm. Vertical skull measurements from 3D CT images may be helpful for stature estimation in Japanese individuals, particularly in cases where better predictors are unavailable.