Assessment of the Total Intra-Cranial Volume of the Igbo Population of Nigeria Using Computed Tomography (original) (raw)
2017, Radiation Science and Technology
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Global Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences
BACKGROUND: Ethnic characteristics of individuals are best described with the skull. Cranial index is one of the most important variables for determining sexual dimorphism and of course racial differences. Parameters used in establishing cephalic index vary considerably depending on the age, sex, geographical habitat, ethnic background of the individuals involved and the methods employed. Such has not been documented in Calabar, especially with the use of advanced imaging modality such as the Computed Tomography (CT) scans. This is the rationale of the study. OBJECTIVE: To determine the cephalic index of Nigerians residing in Calabar using CT scan. MATERIALS AND METHOD: A total of 200 cranial Brivo 385 16 slice CT scan images of Nigerians aged from 18 to 87 years were obtained from the Asi-Ukpo Diagnostic Medical Centre Calabar. A simple random probability sampling technique was employed. Variables measured were the Maximum Cranial Length (MCL), Maximum Cranial Width (MCW), Bizygomatic Length (BZL) and the Orbital Length (OBL). The cephalic index was obtained by measuring the ratio of the maximum head width (MCW) or the Biparietal Diameter (BPD) to maximum head length (MCL) or the antero-posterior diameter then multiplied by 100. RESULTS: Cranial length was 182.9 ± 0.657mm in males and 178.53 ± 0.09mm in females. Cranial width was 138.59 ± 0.56mm in males and 137.21 ± 0.65mm in females. The orbital length was 34.35 ± 0.31mm in males and 33.37 ± 0.29mm in females while bizygomatic length was 130 ± 0.31mm in males and 127.54 ± 0.84mm in females. Cranial index was 76.09mm in males and 75.81mm in females. No significant difference between males and females of the study population as the subject appears to be largely mesocephalic (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Cranial index of the study sampled population is majorly mesocephalic. Therefore, CT scan is very important a tool in the assessment of cranial parameters in anthropometry.
Radiological determination of the cranial index of present-day Ghanaians
Forensic Sciences Research
The cranial index (CI) of Ghanaians is currently unknown. The aim of this study was to measure the CI in a population of Ghanaians in order to classify them against predetermined CI categories. A systematic random sampling method was used to select 300 normal computed tomography (CT) head scans of adult Ghanaians from the largest hospital in Ghana. All patients were deemed to have a normal cranial image configuration based on the radiological report. The biparietal diameter (BPD, width) and the occipitofrontal diameter (OFD, length) were measured on transaxial CT images using a workstation with a calibrated measurement calliper tool. The CI ratio was calculated as the BPD multiplied by 100 and divided by the OFD. Mean, standard deviation (SD) and range were calculated for BPD, OFD and CI. Differences in measurements between demographic groups were compared using an unpaired t-test, with test α set at 0.05. Of the population of Ghanaians included in this study, 165 (55%) were male and 135 (45%) were females. The mean CI was 77.3 ± 3.6 in males and 79.0 ± 3.3 in females, placing both genders in the mesocephalic category. However, the difference between males and females was found to be statistically significant (P = 0.02). The study indicated that most Ghanaian adults belong to the mesocephalic category of CI. Females also had a higher CI, which could be used to differentiate gender groups. This information can be useful for forensic medicine, plastic surgeries for clinical and research purpose. KEY POINTS • This study found the mean CI of adult Ghanaians to be 78.0 ± 13.0. • This indicates that most Ghanaian adults belong to the mesocephalic category of CI. • Females had a higher CI, which could be used to differentiate gender groups. • To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study which assessed CI of Ghanaians using CT scan.
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