Evaluation of the paranasal sinuses dimensions in sex estimation among a sample of adult egyptians using multidetector computed tomography

The identification of the skeletal and decomposing parts of human remains is still one of the most difficult skills in forensic medicine. An incomplete skeleton may represent a great challenge for forensic anthropologists. The aim of the present work has been to determine the accuracy of using the measurements of paranasal sinuses as a method for sex estimation, which uses Multi Detector Computed Tomography (MDCT). The study was carried out on 100 adult Egyptians (50 males and 50 females) who were referred to the Radio-Diagnosis Department of Alexandria University Hospitals in order to perform CT scans of the paranasal sinuses. For each participant, the lengths of 6 sphenoid sinus lines, maxillary sinus dimensions and frontal sinus dimensions were measured for both sides using MDCT. The study revealed that the mean lengths of right (Rt) lines 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 and left lines (Lt) 1 and 4 of the sphenoid sinus were significantly larger in males than in females. Moreover, the mean lengths of the Rt depth, Lt depth and Lt height of the frontal sinus were significantly greater in males than in females. Additionally, the mean lengths of the Rt craniocaudal diameter, Rt depth, Rt width at the middle and intermaxillary distance of the maxillary sinus were significantly greater in males than in females. Logistic regression analysis was performed for sex estimation with an overall accuracy of 77%. It was concluded that the maxillary sinus shows the highest level of accuracy in sex estimation followed by the frontal sinus and then the sphenoid sinus using MDCT.