Sexual Dimorphism of Bizygomatic distance & Maxillary sinus using CT Scan

Abstract

An incomplete skeleton especially skull is a great challenge for Forensic anthropologists for age & sex estimation. But sometimes denser bones are often recovered intact eg. zygomatic bone, maxillary sinus. Therefore this study tries to use the alternate methods for gender estimation by using measurements of denser areas of such unknown skull especially bizygomatic distance.The aim of this study was to investigate whether the bizygomatic distance, AP diameter & width of the maxillary sinus & intermaxillary distance could be used for determination of gender using CT scan. 191 cases were studied, from M.P. region, of which 106 were males and 85 were females. All the measurements were taken from series of CT Head images in axial images on DICOM viewing software in computer.The data was statistically analyzed by using Graph pad prism.Unpaired Student t-test was carried out and calculated for each data separately. Analysis of variance was also done & F-value were calculated. A statistically significant difference with p<0.0001 was observed in the bizygomatic distance with mean±SD of 9.55±0.41cm for male & 9.262±0.52 for female. The strongest correlated variable with bizygomatic distance was the intermaxillary distance (r = 0.3037) in male & AP diameter of sinus (r = 0.5980) in female.We can conclude that Computerized Tomography measurements of bizygomatic distance & maxillary sinus dimensions may be useful to support gender determination in forensic medicine when other methods are inconclusive.

Sexual dimorphism of maxillary sinus using cone beam computed tomography

“…However, typical identification methods may be indecisive, especially when certain extreme post-mortem alterations have occurred. 1 In spite of the leaps in medical breakthroughs, modern technology, investigations and its holistic application in forensics, identification of remnants of skeletal and decomposing parts of humans remains challenging. Forensic odontology aids personal identification through the processes of comparative dental identification, post mortem profiling from dental records, identification from dental DNA etc.…”

Gender Differentiation using Maxillary Sinus

“…Various studies have shown that there is significant variation in the dimension of maxillary sinus between males and females. [8][9][10] In our study, maxillary sinus measurement among males and females did not show any statistically significant difference. Similar study by Dhiman et al 17 showed no significant variation in maxillary sinus in males and females, whereas frontal sinus showed significant variations.…”

“…11 This anatomical structure plays a vital role in reducing weight of the skull and remains intact in most deceased individuals. 8,9 The size of maxillary sinus depends on age, 14,15 which tends to stabilize after the second decade of life. It has been found that maxillary sinus areas are larger in males than in females.…”

“…8,9,12,13 Within our study, we aimed to check the reliability and accuracy of using dimensions of maxillary sinus on lateral cephalogram for gender determination.…”

“…It is noted that although skull and other bones are badly disfigured, maxillary sinus appears to be intact. [8][9][10] Hence, it is necessary to look into the other areas of skeleton for identification of gender when the conventional methods are inconclusive.…”