Gender Determination Using Nasofacial Anthropometry in the Iranian Population

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study is to predict the gender among Iranian population by determining the facial and nasal indices. Methods: Four hundred healthy individuals including 200 males and 200 females (age range of 20-25 years) with normal craniofacial configuration took part in the present study. Facial and nasal variables including facial length (FL), facial width (FW), facial index (FI), nasal length (NL), nasal height (NH), nasal width (NW), and nasal index (NI) measured and SPSS 22.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Results: The mean age was 22.16±2.44 years. The mean FL, FW, FI, NL, NW, and NI were 11.53±0.592 cm, 12.54±1.41 cm, 92.67±6.24 cm, 6.02±0.53 cm, 2.78±0.25 cm, and 90.79±8.22 cm, respectively. There were significant differences in the mean value of all nasofacial parameters (P<0.05). The most prominent face and nose types were hyperleptoprosopic (46%) and platyrrhine (57.75%) among Iranian population. The highest sensitivity and specificity to predict the gender dimorphism were related to FL and FW (.990 and 0.97) and (.970 and 0.94), respectively. Conclusion:  Nasofacial parameters such as FL and FW that are able to sexual dimorphism with high sensitivity and specificity can be helpful in forensic medicine. Also, the nasofacial parameters are useful in in reconstructive, and aesthetic surgeries.