Radiological Study of Anatomical and Gender Variations of Maxillary Sinus in Adults

Background: Morphological measurements maxillary sinuses of human are known to exhibit sexual dimorphism. Maxillary sinus variables could be used successfully for sex identification by forensic experts. Radiograph of these sinuses is more precise, easier, accurate, reproducible method of knowing the morphological variations in both sexes by linear measurements.

Objective: The present study was attempted to document and evaluate the radiological measurements of adult maxillary air sinuses in both sexes and compare them to find out the differences in male and female.

Methods: This study was done in the department of anatomy of Rangpur medical college, Rangpur from January 2018 to December 2018. 100 plain X-ray films (50 male and 50 female) fulfilling the selection criteria were enrolled into this cross sectional, analytical study and these digital X-ray plates were collected from Hypertension and Research center, Rangpur. Protocol of the study was approved by ethical review board of Rangpur Medical College. The X-ray films were collected from adult persons aged 18 to 55 years. Plain X-ray of both antero-posterior (A/P) and lateral view (right) showing the skull with nasal cavity, orbit and paranasal sinuses were collected. The height and width of lower and total maxillary sinus were also measured by digital slide calipers and upper maxillary sinus area, lower maxillary sinus area and total maxillary sinus were also calculated.

Results: In this study maxillary sinus height and width/length and total sinus area in male were significantly higher than that of female. In male the mean ± SD of lower maxillary sinus width and area was also significantly higher in male than that of female. But the height of lower maxillary sinus had no significant difference in male and female though the value was higher in male than that of female. The value of upper maxillary sinus area was also found significantly larger in male than that of female. In case of maxillary sinus index the greater value in female made the result significant.

Conclusion: The air sinuses located in the pneumatic bone of the skull not only essential for functional point of view but also for sex differentiation. The morphological differences in the cranium between the two genders are determined mainly by the genetic factors more, so than nutritional, hormonal or muscular factors. Such aspects can explain why the maxillary sinuses are on average larger in male than that of female in this present study.