Morphological variations of the anterior thoracic skeleton and their forensic significance: Radiographic findings in a Spanish autopsy sample

Morphological approach of the sternal foramen: an anatomic study and a short review of the literature

“…Reported incidence ranges from 0.06% to 18.3%. Prevalence of SF is reported from 0.06% up to 11.6% in radiological studies [4,5,8,18,20,24,26,30], 6.7% to 16.6% in cadaveric studies [3,9,19], and 13.8% and 18.3% in the 2 published anatomic studies, conducted in dry specimens [12,21]. SFs were observed in 5 of 35 sterna (14.6% of dried specimens) in the present study.…”

“…Prevalence of SF features an important correlation with the sex, being reported mainly in male subjects among the studies [8,18,25]. SF may be even only in males encountered [18].…”

“…SF may be even only in males encountered [18]. Most recent data indicate a male:female ratio 2.5:1 among the subjects featuring a SF [8].…”

“…Morphometric characteristics of the SF, are, despite their great variability in localisation, impressively similar. SF is CT -computed tomography, MDCT -multiple detector computed tomography; SF -sternal foramen typically described as a round or oval-shaped defect with smooth periforaminal edges [6,18]. Dimensions of the foramen are in average 6 mm.…”

“…Pseudoforamen constitutes a rare morphological type of the SF, being described in only 2 studies [11,30]. The SF usually appears to be a round or oval-shaped orifice with smooth surrounding osseous borders [6,13,18].…”