Gender-Based Dimorphism of Maxillary and Sphenoid Air Sinuses Via 3D Volumetric Segmentation of CBCT in a Sample of Egyptians
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To determine gender in forensic odontology by volume calculation of maxillary and sphenoid sinuses via three-dimensional (3D) semi-automatic segmentation using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) datasets in a sample of Egyptians. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional descriptive study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt, from January to December 2024. METHODOLOGY: The study included 204 CBCT scans (102 males and 102 females) collected from the database of the study centre. Patients were divided into three age ranges: Group I (18-23 years), Group II (24-28 years), and Group III (>28 years). The maxillary sinus (MS) and sphenoid sinuses (SS) were segmented by MIMICS software. Associations with gender and age were analysed using the one-way ANOVA test. Correlation analysis was made using Spearman's rank-order correlation coefficient. Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) was then implemented for gender discrimination. RESULTS: Maxillary sinus volume (MSV) and sphenoid sinus volume (SSV) were higher in males (p <0.05). For gender determination, the most discriminant parameter was left MSV, with an overall accuracy of 63.24%, that decreased to 62.25% when all evaluated sinuses were combined. No significant difference was detected in sinus volumes among different age groups. For age estimation, the right MSV and the average volume of all sinuses showed low overall accuracy, both at 36.80% which increased to 37.70% when all evaluated sinuses were combined. CONCLUSION: Sphenoid and maxillary air sinuses may be used as valid anatomical landmarks for gender determination. More studies including larger sample sizes of different populations are necessary. KEY WORDS: Forensic imaging, CBCT, Sphenoid air sinus, Maxillary air sinus, Gender discrimination.
Institution: Cairo University
Language: English
Subfield: Archeology
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4411965256