INTRODUCTION

Cone beam computed tomography as an imaging tool in dentistry has varied clinical applications, one of which is viewing sinuses. The accuracy of measurements using CBCT is also commendable. The basic two-dimensional imaging though vastly used has disadvantages like superimpositions and changes in the quality of image secondary to positioning errors and processing the films.

The frontal sinus shows no change after the age of 20 and remains stable throughout the individual's life until old age, when gradual pneumatization can occur from atrophic changes.1 Similar to fingerprints, the frontal sinus is very unique in every individual, even monozygotic twins. Therefore, frontal sinus radiographs can be compared to make the identification a simple, swift, and an unambiguous procedure.2 Camargo et al3 in their article stated that correlation of the morphology of the frontal sinus with gender shows that the frontal sinus is smaller in women, an aspect that points out its unique characteristic and importance in human identification. Imaging of the human body, especially the head and neck region, has been useful in forensic dentistry for proving medicolegal cases and inhuman identifications during mass disasters. Hence, this study was done to measure the frontal sinus morphology, which in turn helps us in gender determination.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted after obtaining clearance from the Institutional Ethics Committee. One hundred CBCT images (50 males and 50 females) matched with age and gender with full FOV were retrieved. Information regarding age, sex, and systemic conditions, etc., of the study subjects was collected from their dental records. The subjects included in the study were healthy individuals without any pathology in the sinus and patients in the age range of 20 to 30 years. The reason for age criteria was due to the fact that the growth of frontal sinus completes or attains its development by 20 years and as age progresses the walls become thinner and hence, appears larger. The patients excluded from the study were those who reported with history of trauma or pathology to the sinus, absence of sinus unilaterally or bilaterally, syndrome patients, patients with congenital disorders and patients with history of surgical intervention, such as orthognathic surgery, sinus lift, or any surgery. The examinations were carried out using the Promax 3DMid (Planmeca Oy., Helsinki, Finland) CBCT unit. The radiographs were taken at 90 kVp, 8 mA, and an exposure time of 27 seconds. A slice thickness of 0.400 mm was used to assess the sections. The exposure parameters according to the standard default values were based on the FOV.

The frontal sinus was assessed in coronal, sagittal, and axial planes, and the maximum measurements in each section were recorded. The height and width of the frontal sinus were measured. The coronal sections were assessed for maximum superoinferior and mesiodistal measurements for both right and left frontal sinus (Fig. 1). The measurements for right and left frontal sinus in the sagittal section, i.e., maximum superoinferior measurement, were established from the patient's medial line and the measurements taken were correlated with the coronal sections. The maximum anteroposterior (AP) measurements were recorded for right and left frontal sinus after correlation with the axial section. In the axial section, the AP measurement was recorded after correlating it with the sagittal section, and mesiodistal measurements were taken at a section where maximum mesiodistal measurements were available.

Fig. 1

Frontal sinus measurement superoinferiorly and mesiodistally in coronal section

wjoud-9-34-g001.tif

The results to compare the right and left frontal sinus were analyzed using paired t-tests, and independent Student's t-test was used to compare the difference in measurements of frontal sinus between males and females.

RESULTS

Paired t-test

The paired t-test was applied to compare the difference in measurements of right and left frontal sinus in axial, coronal, and sagittal sections irrespective of gender. One hundred patients were included in the study, which was divided into 50 males and 50 females (Table 1).

Axial Section

On comparison of the mean values in the axial section anteroposteriorly on both right and left side, it was seen that the mean values in the axial section of left side were higher with a mean difference of 0.9698, which was statistically significant (p = 0.005). While comparing the mean values of right and left side mesiodistally, the mean value on the left side mesiodistally was higher with a mean difference of 0.2861, which was statistically insignificant.

Table 1

Total group irrespective of gender comparison of the right and left frontal sinus: paired t-test

MeannStandard deviationPaired differencest-valuedfp-value
Mean difference ± SD
Pair 1
Axial section right AP9.88221004.823391—0.9698 ± 3.352842—2.892990.005
Axial section left AP10.8521005.120162
Pair 2
Axial section right MD22.20031008.410006—0.286 ± 18.737443—0.327990.744
Axial section left MD22.48641007.542099
Pair 3
Sagittal section right AP11.45041005.703515—0.824 ± 3.512907—2.346990.021
Sagittal section left AP12.27441005.279986
Pair 4
Sagittal section right SI24.36421009.612597—1.6842 ± 5.668888—2.971990.004
Sagittal section left SI26.04841009.336425
Pair 5
Coronal section right SI23.86241008.419029—2.0716 ± 10.3888—1.994990.049
Coronal section left SI25.93410011.02097
Pair 6
Coronal section right MD21.9441007.627122—0.454 ± 7.990745—0.568990.571
Coronal section left MD22.3981007.545016
SD: Standard deviation; SI: Superoinferiorly, MD; Mesiodistally; df: Degree of freedom

Sagittal Section

In this section on comparing both sides anteroposteriorly and superoinferiorly, it was found that the mean value on the left side was higher with a mean difference of 0.824 anteroposteriorly, which was statistically significant with a p-values = 0.021 and 1.6824 superoinferiorly with significant p = 0.004.

Coronal Section

On comparison of the mean values of right and left side superoinferiorly, it was found that the mean value on the left side was higher with a mean difference of 2.0716, which was statistically significant (p = 0.049). It was found that the mean value on the left side was higher mesiodistally, with a mean difference of 0.454, which showed statistically significant p = 0.571.

Independent Student's t-test

This test was done to compare the difference in measurements of frontal sinus between males and females (Table 2).

Table 2

Independent t-test for comparison of frontal sinus among both the genders

SexnMean ± SDt-valuedfp-value
Axial section right APM5012.252 ± 4.8267645.62198<0.001
F507.5124 ± 3.49946
Axial section right MDM5025.12 ± 6.7495133.68698<0.001
F5019.2806 ± 8.941291
Axial section left APM5013.156 ± 5.8287175.0271.253<0.001
F508.548 ± 2.856517
Axial section left MDM5024.4924 ± 7.4917282.746980.007
F5020.4804 ± 7.1126
Sagittal section right APM5013.7916 ± 5.9744854.48398<0.001
F509.1092 ± 4.3409
Sagittal section right SIM5025.7844 ± 7.6818631.48687.1110.141
F5022.944 ± 11.11587
Sagittal section left APM5014.5044 ± 6.2107934.64167.593<0.001
F5010.0444 ± 2.757305
Sagittal section left SIM5027.6724 ± 8.7431451.758980.082
F5024.4244 ± 9.710389
Coronal section right SIM5024.852 ± 5.5808431.17874.6760.243
F5022.8728 ± 10.49105
Coronal section right MDM5025.172 ± 5.8160954.65398<0.001
F5018.716 ± 7.90196
Coronal section left SIM5026.208 ± 8.5242470.247980.805
F5025.66 ± 13.13722
Coronal section left MDM5024.824 ± 7.3483183.38980.001
F5019.972 ± 7.000526
SD: Standard deviation, SI: Superoinferiorly, MD: Mesiodistally; df: Degree of freedom

Axial Section

Comparison of the right and left frontal sinus measurements anteroposteriorly and mesiodistally between the two groups showed that both the measurements were greater in the males. The p values for right AP, mesiodistal and left AP measurements are <0.001 and the left mesiodistal measurement had p = 0.007, all of which were statistically significant.

Sagittal Section

Comparison of the right and left frontal sinus measurements anteroposteriorly and superoinferiorly between the two groups showed that both the measurements were greater in the males. The p values for right and left AP measurements were <0.001 and the right and left superoinferior measurements had a p = 0.141 and 0.082 respectively, which was statistically nonsignificant.

Coronal Section

Comparison of the right and left frontal sinus measurements superoinferiorly and mesiodistally between the two groups showed that both the measurements were greater in the males. The p values for right and left mesiodistal measurements were <0.001, and the right and left superoinferior measurements had a p = 0.243 and 0.805 respectively, which was statistically nonsignificant.

DISCUSSION

Frontal sinus is a hollow cavity in the frontal bone, and it is unique to each person. Like fingerprints, frontal sinus is unique in each person, even in monozygotic/dizygotic twins. Compared with fingerprints, frontal sinus assessment is preferred as soft tissues can get destroyed or mutilated when it gets burnt,4 and its arch-shaped nature with internal bony structure protects it from getting decomposed or damaged even in high impact accidents. Frontal sinuses also remain stable throughout human life. Hence, it is preferred in forensic investigations.5

In this study, on comparing the left and right frontal sinuses irrespective of gender, we found that left side was larger when compared with the right side, which is in accordance to the study conducted by other studies by Rubira-Bullen et al6 and Soman et al.7 The reason for the asymmetry in individuals of the same age could be due to the fact that both the sinuses develop independently and have different rates of osseous resorption,3,8-10 and our result was not in accordance to the study conducted by Belaldavar et al4 where they found it vice versa.

The difference in the frontal sinuses among sexes could be due to factors, such as genetic followed by muscular, nutritional, and hormonal.11,12 Our study showed that frontal sinuses in males were larger than in females, which was similar to studies conducted by Camargo et al,3 Belaldavar et al,4 and Rubira-Bullen et al.6

According to our study, we found that males had a larger frontal sinus and the left side of the frontal sinus was larger than the right. These findings help us in sex determination in mass disasters, crime scene, or if the body is severely decomposed. Although the radiation exposure to the patient using three dimensions is much more compared with two dimensions, the benefits outweigh the disadvantage, which makes CBCT a valuable tool in assessing the anatomy of oral and maxillofacial structures.

Conflicts of interest

Source of support: Nil

Conflict of interest: None