Sex Estimation With Three-Dimensional Analysis of the Maxillary Sinus From Computed Tomography Images

Area of Science:

• Forensic Anthropology
• Anatomical Imaging
• Human Osteology

Background:

• Sex estimation from skeletal remains is crucial for biological profiling in forensic investigations.
• The maxillary sinus, a paranasal air cavity, has potential anatomical variations between sexes.
• Limited research exists on utilizing maxillary sinus dimensions for forensic sex determination.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the utility of maxillary sinus dimensions and volume for sex estimation.
• To determine the accuracy and precision of maxillary sinus parameters in differentiating male and female individuals.
• To assess the potential of maxillary sinus measurements as a supplementary tool in forensic sex determination.

Main Methods:

• Computed tomography (CT) scans of the paranasal sinuses were analyzed for 232 adult subjects (116 males, 116 females).
• Measurements included maxillary sinus volume, length, width, and height.
• Statistical analysis was performed to compare parameters between sexes and assess their efficacy in sex estimation.

Main Results:

• All measured maxillary sinus parameters were significantly larger in males, except for right maxillary sinus length (P < 0.05).
• Right maxillary sinus volume demonstrated the highest precision for sex determination at 68.1%.
• The overall accuracy for sex estimation using maxillary sinus parameters was 68.2%, with higher accuracy for males (78.6%) than females (58.6%).

Conclusions:

• Maxillary sinus volume and dimensions can serve as valuable indicators for sex estimation in forensic science.
• These parameters provide a complementary method to traditional skeletal analyses, especially when complete skeletons are unavailable.
• The accuracy rate, approaching 70%, supports the integration of maxillary sinus data into comprehensive sex determination protocols.