Gender assessment through three-dimensional analysis of maxillary sinuses by means of cone beam computed tomography.

TLDR

Cone‑beam computed tomography provides low‑dose, high‑resolution scans that are increasingly available for forensic use, and dedicated software enables three‑dimensional characterization of maxillary sinuses. The study aimed to assess whether maxillary sinus volumes could discriminate gender, after validating Dolphin 3D software for volumetric estimation. Four operators measured six known‑volume phantoms and 52 patients’ sinuses on CBCT scans processed by Dolphin 3D, finding no discrepancy between measured and true phantom volumes. No significant gender difference in sinus volumes was observed, indicating that maxillary sinus size cannot reliably distinguish sex in forensic identification.

Abstract

The availability of a low dose radiation technology such as Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) in dental practice has increased the number of scans available for forensic purposes. Moreover, specific software allows for three-dimensional (3D) characterization of the maxillary sinuses. This study was performed to determine whether sinus maxillary volumes can be useful to identify gender after validating the use of the Dolphin software as a tool for volumetric estimation of maxillary sinus volumes.The validation was performed by four different operators measuring the volume of six phantoms, where the real volume was already known. The maxillary sinus volumes of 52 patients (26 males and 26 females) mean age 24.3 were calculated and compared between genders and sagittal skeletal class subdivision. The measurements for patients and phantoms were based on CBCT scans (ILUMA™) processed by Dolphin 3D software.No statistical difference was observed between the real volume and the volume measurements performed by the operators. No statistical difference was found in patient's maxillary sinus volumes between gender.Based on our results, it is not possible to support the use of maxillary sinuses to discern sexual difference in corpse identification.