Evaluation of Maxillary Sinus Dimensions in Gender Determination Using Helical CT Scanning

• NCJ Number: 234432
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 56 Issue: 2 Dated: March 2011 Pages: 403-408
• Author(s): Asmaa T. Uthman, B.D.S., M.Sc.; Natheer H. Al-Rawl, B.D.S., M.Sc., Ph.D.; Ahmed S. Al-Naaimi, M.B.Ch.B., M.Sc., Ph.D.; Jalal F. Al-Timimi, B.D.S., M.Sc.
• Date Published: March 2011
• Length: 6 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Gender determination is an important step in identification in forensic medicine. CT measurements of maxillary sinuses may be useful to support gender identification. This study was undertaken to study the accuracy and reliability of maxillary sinus dimensions measurement in gender classification through the use of reconstructed helical CT images.

Abstract

Eighty-eight patients (43 men and 45 women) with age range from 20 to 49 years were selected in this study. The width, length, and height of the maxillary sinuses in addition to the total distance across both sinuses were measured. Data were subjected to discriminant analysis for gender using multiple regression analysis. Maxillary sinus height was the best discriminant parameter that could be used to study sexual dimorphism with an overall accuracy of 71.6 percent. Using multivariate analysis, 74.4 percent of male sinuses and 73.3 percent of female sinuses were sexed correctly. The overall percentage for sexing maxillary sinuses correctly was 73.9 percent. It can be concluded that reconstructed CT image can provide valuable measurements for maxillary sinuses and could be used for sexing when other methods of sexing are not conclusive. (Published Abstract)