The International Arab Forensic Science and Forensic Medicine Conference / 8-10 November 2015 Value of Palatine Rugae in Forensic Identification of a Population Sample from Upper Egypt Afaf M. A.Farghaly 1 ; Mohammad I. Ahmed 2 ; Raafat A. Tammam 3 ; Ghada A. Omran 1 1 Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology department, Faculty of medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt 2 Forensic Medicine and Clinical toxicology department, Faculty of medicine, Al Azhar University, Assiut branch, Egypt 3 Fixed Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt. Palatal rugae may be an alternative identification mode when it is difficult to utilize finger prints or dental records. The present study was undertaken to estimate palatal rugae biometric characteristics of a population sample from Upper Egypt; and to compare age and gender effects on rugae pattern. The study sample comprised 100 dental casts of volunteers or patients attending Al-Azhar Dental Hospital (Assiut branch), 25 males and 25 females with age range 20-30 years (group I) and another set with age range 40-50 years (group II). Trobo’s classification was implemented. Results revealed that sinouos rugae shape was the most prevalent in the total sample and the least was the circle type. Although most of shapes are insignificantly differentiated in both genders, males had significantly higher proportion of angle and point pattern as compared to females. Palatine rugae shape was also differentiated on each side of the palate in males and females. The total sample showed most of rugae in the E quadrant, then D quadrant from posterior to anterior part of the palate. However, younger age group had significantly higher numbers in the E quadrant as compared with elder group, who had considerable higher proportion in the C and B quadrants. Additionally, rugae shape could not discriminate between age groups as well as rugae position in both genders. Moreover, rugae length and number did not differ in relation to gender or age. It can be concluded that palatal rugae can play a significant role in forensic identification and population differentiation. Palatal rugae are asymmetrical and irregular elevations of the mucosa located in the anterior third of the palate, made from the lateral membrane of the incisive papillae and arranged in transverse direction from palatine raphe located in the mid-sagital plane.The pattern of orientation is formed by the 12th to 14th week of prenatal life and remains stable until the oral mucosa degenerates after death (Thomas et al, 1987). Palatal rugae may be an alternative mode of identification when traffic accidents, acts of terrorism or mass disaster occur in which it is difficult to identify a person according to finger prints or dental records. (Patil et al., 2008). Previous studies that considered the use of palatal rugae pattern in personal identification or gender differentiation are limited (Gondivkar et al, 2011). The present study was carried out to: 1- estimate the prevalence and biometric characteristics of palatal rugae patterns in a population sample from Upper Egypt, 2- know the different morphological rugae patterns in males and females for gender differentiation. 3- compare age effects on rugae patterns observed. Cross sectional study design using a random sampling technique was employed in this study. The sample comprised of 100 dental casts from 100 subjects who were volunteers or patients attending Al Azhar Dental Hospital, 25 males and 25 females ( age range 20-30 years) and another 25 males and 25 females (age range 40-50 years). Classification of Trobo has been used in this study which divides simple rugae shapes into 6 groups; classified from A to F and composed rugae are classified with the letter X, that result from two or more simple rugae union (Pueyo et al, 1994) . Size, number and position of rugae were also investigated in relation to age and gender. Fig.4: The 5 quadrants of rugae position (A, B, C,D, E) Fig. 2: Trobo’s classification of palatal rugae. Fig. 3: Example of rugae pattern in a plster cast. Fig.5: Shape distribution of palatal rugae by Trobo’s classification of an Egyptian population sample Fig. 6: Different shapes of rugae in male and female of a population sample from Upper Egypt using X 2 analysis. Angle & point patterns are higher in males. *<0.05, **<0.01 Fig.9: Distribution of palatal rugae according to the 5 quadrants that divides the palate of the total population sample.. Fig. 10: Distribution of palatal rugae according to the 5 quadrants that divides the palate in relation to age groups using X 2 analysis.. Elder age group’s rugae were significantly more in B &C quadrants while younger group were higher in E quadrant.. * <0.5, ** <0.01 Rugae shape could not discriminate between age groups and rugae position could not differentiate both genders. Moreover, rugae length and number did not differ in relation to gender or age in the investigated population sample . Studying the palatal rugae pattern in an Upper Egyptian population sample revealed that rugae shape aided gender differentiation as males has significantly higher angle & point rugae patterns than females. Moreover, males had sinous rugae more in left side of the palate & line rugae more in right side, while females had sinous rugae more in the right side & curve rugae more in the left side. The total sample showed most of rugae were in the E quadrant, then D quadrant from posterior to anterior part of the palate. However, younger age group had significantly higher numbers in the E quadrant as compared with the elder group, who had considerable higher proportion in the C and B quadrants. Additionally, rugae shape could not discriminate between age groups as well as rugae position in both genders. Moreover, rugae length and number did not differ in relation to gender or age. It can be concluded that palatal rugae pattern is consistent throughout life and can be population specific. Fig.7: Distribution of different palatal shapes in right &left side of the palate in males. Sinous rugae are significantly higher in left side & line rugae are more in right side. * <0.5, **<0.01. Fig. 8: Distribution of different palatal shape in right &left side of the palate in females. Sinous rugae are significantly higher in right side & curve rugae are more in left side. * <0.5, ** <0.01. 1. Almeida MA, Philips C, Kula K, Tulloch C.Angle Orthod, 1995. 2. De Angelis D, Riboli F, Gibelli D, Cappella A, Cattaneo C. Sci Justice, 2012. 3. Gondivkar SM, Patel S, Gadbail AR, Gaikwad RN, Chole R, Parikh RV. J Forensic Legal Med,2011. 4. Pueyo VM, Garrido BR, Sanchez JAS. Odontologia Legaly forense, Masson, Barcelona, 1994. 5. Patil MS, Patil SB, Acharya AB.J Am Dent Assoc, 2008. 6. Thomas CJ, Kotze TJ, Van clerMervve CA. Arch Oral biol, 1987. Abstract Introduction Aims Subjects & Methods Fig. 1: Image showing example of palatal rugae pattern. Results Conclusion References PP 6.2