Morphometric Study of Maxillary Air Sinus using Computed Tomography

Abstract

Introduction: Maxillary air sinus is the largest paranasal air sinus. It exhibits dimorphic features and remains intact in victims who are incinerated therefore it can be used for identification of individual and gender determination. CT is most reliable method for measurements of maxillary sinus dimensions and anatomical variations related to it. Aim: The present study was conducted to find out the volume and maximum Anteroposterior (AP) diameter of the maxillary air sinus and the anatomical variations related to it. Materials and Methods: CT images of 100 healthy adults were subjected to the measurements of volume and maximum AP diameter of right and left maxillary air sinus using Autocontour software. Student’s ‘t’-test was used to find out significant difference between males and females. Results: The volume of right and left maxillary sinuses in males were found to be 12.95±4.48 cm3, 13.26±3.94 cm3, and in females 10.59±3.37 cm3, 10.16±2.92 cm3 respectively. A statistically significant difference was observed between volume of right and left maxillary sinuses in males and females. Maximum AP diameters of right and left maxillary sinuses in males were 37.31±4.62 mm, 37.74±3.59 mm and in females were 36.15±3.92 mm, 35.57±3.50 mm respectively. Statistically significant difference was observed between the maximum AP diameter of males and females for left maxillary sinus. Conclusion: The results of the present study and knowledge of variations in maxillary sinus as seen in computed tomographic scans will help in identification of individual, sex determination and minimizing risks during surgery.

Keywords

• Functional endoscopic sinus surgery
• Gender determination
• Hypoplasia
• Maxillary sinus parameters