Contribution of the maxillary sinus analysis for human identification

Abstract

The maxillary sinuses provide important subsidies for forensic identification. The objective of this paper is to evaluate the effectiveness of gender and human identification through maxillary sinus analysis, as well to propose three different identification methods. Its sample was composed by 656 panoramic dental radiographs of 328 individuals from both genders, which were divided by two groups (control and experimental), according to the presence or the

absence of tooth loss. Three methods were employed: two manual processes and one generated by computer system. The manual techniques consisted in measuring both height and width from the sinus using acetate sheets, evaluating the morphology of quadrants. The computerized technique used the software IMAGELAB 2000® to calculate sinus’ area, perimeter and form factor. Both were followed by a statistical and comparative data analysis. Sinus’ morphology and measurement can be used to estimate gender and individual human identification. The analysis of the maxillary sinus associated to other evidences can be used in Forensic Medicine Institutes since it can contribute to human identification studies and cases.