Maxillary sinus assessment for gender and age determination using cone beam computed tomography in an egyptian sample

Introduction: Forensic anthropology is the application of the medical science in the criminal law. The identification of human skeletal remains is considered the first challenging and important step of unknown skull and very crucial for further analysis. In forensic medicine the adult skeleton gender determination is usually the first step of the identification process. Objectives: The primary aim of this study was to assess the possibility of using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images for gender and age determination through the evaluation of maxillary sinus linear measurements, the second aim to determine the prevalence of maxillary sinus septa and to detect the most common shape of maxillarysinus. Materials and methods: The present study was conducted in Department of Oral Medicine, Periodontology, Oral Diagnosis and Oral Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Alexandria University. Retrospectively 82 CBCT scans of Egyptian patients aged 20-65 years were included in a cross-sectional study that was designed to measure three parameters (height, width and length) of maxillary sinus bilaterally in axial and coronal view using On-Demand® software. Moreover estimation of the prevalence of maxillary sinus septa and evaluation of maxillary sinus morphology was performed. Results: The studied sample showed statistically insignificant differences (p  > 0.05) in maxillary sinus measurements between males and females and between maxillary sinus measurements according to age group. Sinus septa were present in 78 (47%) of the 164 maxillary sinuses, and according to the maxillary sinus morphology the main 3D shape was pyramidal shape in (upside down triangle) in 100% of the cases. Conclusions: linear measurements of maxillary sinus on the CBCT images cannot be used for gender or age determination.