The dimensional and morphological assessment of frontal air sinus in different ages, genders and ethnicities (Arabian-Caucasian and Han-Chinese sub-populations)

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to assess the dimensional and morphological measurements of the frontal air sinuses in different ages and genders in the two ethnicities. Materials and methods: This retrospective study included 360 subjects (160 males and 200 females) of both ethnicities. Subjects were divided based on age and gender into four groups, including an equal number of both males and females, for each age and ethnic group. The frontal air sinus dimensions were measured utilizing lateral cephalometric radiographs and computed using Winceph version 9.0 software. The frontal air sinus dimensions were compared between age groups in both genders and between ethnicity using an independent sample t test. The relationship between the frontal air sinus dimensions and subjects’ age was evaluated using Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Result: The frontal air sinuses measurements were larger in males than females in both ethnicities, except for the frontal sinus index, which was found to be larger in females than males. The frontal air sinus surface area and height showed statistically significant differences between the two age groups in both ethnicities (P < 0.05). The Arabian-Caucasian patients had a larger frontal sinus surface area, height, and depth than the Han-Chinese patients in both age groups. Conclusion: The size of the frontal air sinus increases with age; and continues to expand after the age of 20 years. Based on the Arabian-Caucasian and Han-Chinese sub-population findings, the frontal sinus is an effective tool for determining gender and appears to have potential in ethnicity identification.