A Morphometric and Volumetric Evaluation of Maxillary Sinus Using Computed Tomography as a Tool for Sex Determination

Abstract Background: The maxillary sinuses (MSs) frequently exhibit preservation, even in the presence of substantial cranial and other skeletal deformities. Measurements of MS length, width, height, and volume are not only important anatomical features during surgical planning but also play a key role in forensic anthropology, aiding in the identification of individuals, particularly when other skeletal traits are damaged or missing. This research aimed to assess the morphometric features differences in MSs between the sexes on the basis of computed tomography (CT) scans with the goal of determining their applicability in sex determination. Methodology: A total of 464 cases (230 males and 234 females) from the Western Uttar Pradesh region were studied. CT of the cranium was performed to evaluate diverse morphometric characteristics of the MS. A Student’s t -test was employed to ascertain the mean disparity between male and female participants, while discriminant analysis was utilized for sex determination. Results: As compared to females, MS (morphometric characteristics) of males was observed to be greater, with statistically significant differences noted for sinus length and width ( P < 0.05). Furthermore, sinus height and volume exhibited a difference which was highly significant ( P < 0.001). Through discriminative analysis, the highest prediction rate obtained from the measurements was 62.4% for females and 67% for males. Conclusion: In forensic science, CT scans of the sinus of maxilla provide valuable measurements that can be used for sex determination.