EVALUATION OF MAXILLARY SINUS DIMENSIONS IN SEX AND AGE DETERMINATION AMONG A SAMPLE OF EGYPTIANS USING COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY

Abstract

Objectives; Determination of sex utilizing skeletal remains still displays a difficult issue to forensic specialists, particularly when body fragments are only found in a mass disaster, car or plane accident, fires, and even in the investigations of crimes. Sinus radiography is one of these methods that was utilized for determining the sex of a person. Consequently, the present study aimed to evaluate the reliability of the morphometric dimensions of the maxillary sinus in determining sex, and age via computed tomography (CT) scan images as paranasal sinuses still undamaged whether the skull and other bones are seriously damaged or not. Methodology; The present work involved 30 adult cases (15 males and 15 females) referred to the radiodiagnosis department of Beni-Suef university hospital. Determining the length, height, and width of the right and left maxillary sinuses was performed using a CT scan, and statistical analysis was performed. Results; there was a statistically significant (P < 0.05) difference in the width of the left maxillary sinus between females and males, while the other dimensions of the left and right maxillary sinuses showed an insignificant difference (P > 0.05). Conclusion; Dimensions of the maxillary sinuses alone cannot be used as an accurate diagnostic parameter for age and sex determination. We recommend doing such a study on a more significant number of people of the same sex, race, age, and who share the same food, habits, and environmental factors, to make this technique definite and attain standardizations for use in the field of forensic medicine.