3D Evaluation of Maxillary Sinus Using Computed Tomography: A Sexual Dimorphic Study.

Area of Science:

• Forensic anthropology
• Radiology
• Anatomy

Background:

• Gender determination is crucial for biological profile reconstruction in forensic medicine.
• Maxillary sinuses offer potential for sex identification when other methods are indecisive.
• Computed tomography (CT) provides detailed imaging of maxillary sinuses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the accuracy of gender determination using maxillary sinus measurements from CT scans.
• To evaluate the utility of maxillary sinus dimensions and volume for sex identification in forensic contexts.

Main Methods:

• CT images of 100 patients (50 males, 50 females) were analyzed.
• Mediolateral, superoinferior, and anteroposterior dimensions, along with sinus volume, were measured.
• Discriminant analysis and independent samples t-test were employed for statistical comparison.

Main Results:

• The overall accuracy rate for gender determination was 88%.
• Specific accuracy rates were 84% for males and 92% for females.
• Measurements of maxillary sinus dimensions and volume showed significant differences between sexes.

Conclusions:

• Maxillary sinus measurements via CT are a viable method for gender determination in forensic medicine.
• This technique is particularly useful when traditional identification methods are unavailable or inconclusive.
• Incorporating maxillary sinus volume can potentially enhance the prediction accuracy for sex identification.