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Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy

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01-02-2007 | Original Article

Determination of gender by measuring the size of the maxillary sinuses in computerized tomography scans

Authors: Hacer Yasar Teke, Semra Duran, Nergis Canturk, Gurol Canturk

Published in: Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy | Issue 1/2007

Abstract

Background

Identification of corpses is a difficult forensic procedure and it is mandated by laws and social rules. Comparison of ante mortem and post-mortem medical records, such as dental documents, plays an important role in the identification of corpses. However, typical identification methods may be inconclusive, especially when certain extreme post-mortem changes have developed. Gender has long been determined from the skull, the pelvis and the long bones with an epiphysis and a metaphysis in unknown skeletons. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the width, the length and the height of the maxillary sinuses could be used for determination of gender.

Materials and Methods

The width, the length and the height of the maxillary sinuses were measured in 127 adult patients who were admitted to the Department of Radiology for computed tomography scans of their sinuses. Of 127 patients, 62 (48.8%) were females and 65 (51.2%) were males. The width, the length and the height of the maxillary sinuses were measured in Computerized Tomography scans (Hitachi Radix Turbo computed tomography) when the patients were in prone position without sedation or contrast medium. The data were subjected to a discriminative analysis using the SPSS package program (Version 11.5).

Results

The discriminative analysis showed that the accuracy of maxillary sinus measurements—i.e. the ability of the maxillary sinus size to identify gender—was 69.4% in females and 69.2% in males.

Conclusion

Computerized Tomography measurements of maxillary sinuses may be useful to support gender determination in forensic medicine; however, with a relatively low-accuracy rate (less than 70%).

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Title: Determination of gender by measuring the size of the maxillary sinuses in computerized tomography scans
Authors: Hacer Yasar Teke
Semra Duran
Nergis Canturk
Gurol Canturk
Publication date: 01-02-2007
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy / Issue 1/2007
Print ISSN: 0930-1038
Electronic ISSN: 1279-8517
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-006-0157-1

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Determination of gender by measuring the size of the maxillary sinuses in computerized tomography scans

Abstract

Background

Materials and Methods

Results

Conclusion

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Materials and Methods

Results

Conclusion

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