Original Article
Year : 2021 | Volume : 6 | Issue : 1 | Page : 22 - 26
Frontal Sinus Dimensions: An Aid in Gender Determination in Adult Nigerians
Beryl Shitandi Ominde, Patrick S Igbigbi
From the Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Biology, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria
Address for correspondence:
Dr. Beryl Shitandi Ominde,
E‐mail: berylominde@gmail.com
Abstract
Background:
The morphometry of the frontal sinus (FS) is important in the diagnosis, surgical treatment, and follow‐up of sinus pathology. It is also reliable in the forensic identification of skeletonized, charred, and dismembered human remains. This study aimed at determining the morphometry of the FS in adult Nigerians.
Materials and Methods:
This retrospective study used computed tomography images of 292 adult patients aged ≥20 years and archived in the radiology department of a tertiary hospital in Nigeria. Following ethical approval, the dimensions of the FS were measured. The axial and coronal sections were used to measure the thickness of the anterior and posterior walls, the width, depth, the distance between the most lateral points of the FS, height, and distance between the highest points of the FS bilaterally. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software version 23. Paired t-test and independent t-test were used to evaluate for the side and gender differences in the morphometric parameters, respectively. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results:
The thickness of the anterior and posterior walls, depth, width, height, the distance between the most lateral points, the distance between the highest points of the FS, and volume showed a statistically significant gender difference (P =0.001). The dimensions of the FS showed statistically significant side differences (P =0.001).
Conclusion:
The FS morphometric parameters showed sexual dimorphism and can be used for sex determination of unknown human remains in forensic investigations.
Key Words: Depth, frontal, height, sinus, volume, width
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
How to cite this article:
Ominde BS, Igbigbi PS. Frontal sinus dimensions: An aid in gender determination in adult Nigerians. Int J Forensic Odontol 2021;6:22-6.
