CORRELATION BETWEEN THE MORPHOMETRIC PARAMETERS OF MAXILLARY SINUSES AND NASAL APERTURES AS A FORENSIC IDENTIFICATION AID USING CONE BEAM CT: A PILOT STUDY

Abstract

Objectives: Bone remodelling of the cranium determines the enlargement of the maxillary sinuses. The process involves the resorption of the internal walls of the maxillary sinus that slightly exceed the growth of the maxilla. During this process, bone deposition occurs at the medial border of the nasal cavity as does simultaneous resorption of the lateral wall of the nasal cavity. Very few studies have investigated the correlation between the growth of the maxillary sinuses with changes in the dimensions of the nasal aperture. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine, compare and correlate the three-dimensional morphometric parameters of the maxillary sinus and nasal apertures in a study population from the states of Karnataka and Kerala in India, to utilize the data for the purpose of individual identification, sexual dimorphism or any other application in the field of forensic facial reconstruction and/or human identification. Materials and Methods: This pilot study analysed the measurements of the morphometric landmarks of the maxillary sinus and the nasal aperture of 20 subjects, ranging in age from 18 to 30. Results: The Morphometric parameters of the maxillary sinus and the nasal aperture were seen to be statistically significant in a few of the groups, and these findings can be applied to evaluate sexual dimorphism. Conclusions: The maxillary sinuses remain intact even though the skull and other bones of the cranium may be severely disfigured in victims that are incinerated or that have experienced external trauma. Morphometric measurements, such as width, depth and height which were used to investigate the accuracy and reliability of the maxillary sinuses, can also be used for sex estimation. These dimensions can be correlated with the measurements of the nasal aperture, which will also provide an insight into the development of the cranium. Moreover, these measurements are important anthropometric parameters for classifying the race and sex of an individual whose identity is unknown.