Abstract

Background: The integration of Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) in the dental field has enhanced the capacity to identify remnants of skeletal and decomposing human parts in forensic medicine. Gender classification plays a crucial role in identification, as it can effectively eliminate a significant percentage of possibilities. Objective: The current study aimed to assess the utility of maxillary sinus volumes and dimensions, including ostium positioning, in determining gender among a sample of the Lebanese population. Methods: Data from 140 maxillary sinuses were investigated by means of CBCT images from 70 patients. Three radiologists measured the volume, width, depth, height, and ostium-floor distance of the sinuses using computer software tools. The maxillary sinus volumes with a mean patient age of 58 years were calculated using a mathematically validated formula and compared across left and right sides, genders, dentate and edentulous patients, and various age groups. Results: Statistical analysis of maxillary sinus measurements revealed that both the volume and dimensions of the sinuses were greater in males than in females. Additionally, these measurements tended to decrease with advancing age. Notably, significant differences were observed among patients with natural teeth and those who are edentulous, particularly in the height of the sinuses, which was significantly greater in edentulous individuals, resulting in larger maxillary sinus volumes for both genders. The ostium-floor distance measurements demonstrated high bilateral symmetry, with mean values of 3.54 cm (SD 0.57) for the right side and 3.58 cm (SD 0.52) for the left side, suggesting consistent ostium positioning across the population sample. Conclusion: This retrospective study, which assessed the volume, dimensions, and ostium positioning of the maxillary sinus using CBCT images from 70 patients, revealed that males possess larger maxillary sinuses than females, with a trend towards reduction in size with increasing age. The bilateral symmetry in ostium-floor distance provides additional anatomical reference data for clinical and forensic applications. Thus, the determination of age and gender in forensic medicine utilizing CBCT may prove to be both useful and advantageous.

Key words: Cone Beam Computed Tomography, maxillary sinus, volume, dimension, ostium, dentate patient, edentulous patients.