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Objective: To determine the usability and superiority of the maxillary and frontal sinus measurement parameters in the skull for sex determination, which is the first step towards identification
Material-method: Between January 2016 and August 2017, paranasal computed tomography (pCT) images performed with different clinical indications in our institution were evaluated retrospectively. Height, width, anteroposterior diameter (AP) of both maxillary and frontal sinuses were measured on axial, sagittal, and coronal pCT images. All the data were analyzed using the SPSS 18.0 program. Normal distribution of data was evaluated by Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Since all variables showed normal distribution, descriptive statistics were shown as mean ± ss. Student t test was used for comparison according to gender groups. Measurements were evaluated using discriminant function analysis and the percentages of sex separation were calculated.
Results: A total of 128 (56 female, 72 male) individuals were examined. A significant difference was found between sexes in terms of all frontal sinus measurements (p<0.05). In all of the measured variables, males had a higher mean value than females. Maxillary sinus height and AP diameter and left maxillary sinus width measurements were significantly different from maxillary sinus measurements (p<0.05). When the multivariable discriminant function test was applied, all of the measurements accurately classified 60,4% of female to 80.9% of male. When all parameters were evaluated together, the mean accuracy rate was 71.9%. The measurements with the most detailed discrimination usually belonged to the right frontal sinus. Right frontal sinus height was able to distinguish 51.9% of female and 73.5% of male.
Conclusion: In this study, frontal sinus sizes were found to be more distinctive in sex determination. In order to make this finding suitable for the general population, studies with a higher number of patients in different populations are needed. Our study also confirms that pCT can be used in anthropological studies.
Cite this article as: Durum Polat Y, Metin Tellioğlu A, Şahmelikoğlu AG, Çapacı B, Karaman CZ. Use of Maxillary and Frontal Sinus Diameters in Sex Determination: Which is Superior? Cerrahpaşa Medical Journal 2020; 44(1): 27-34.