title: [Sexual dimorphism and facial cavities: a 3D imaging volumetric study].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to investigate the sexual dimorphism in facial cavity's volumes of untreated young adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty subjects, ages between 18 to 30 years, were selected and divided in two groups according to the gender. Volumes of orbital, nasal, sinusal and buccal cavities were measured from CT scans with AMIRA(®)software. The statistical studies were performed using Kolmogorov-Smirnov test for normality followed by Student "t" test (p < 0.05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The gender comparison reflected statistically significant differences between the volumes of orbital, nasal, sinusal and buccal cavities, volumes being larger in males. Sexual dimorphism did not appear in the ratio of each cavity volume on the total facial volume.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Absolute volume of facial cavities are larger in males, but no sexual dimorphism is detected comparing volume ratios. A difference in size, but not in shape, between genders might exist.
authors.affiliation: Département d'Orthodontie, Faculté de Médecine Dentaire, Université Saint-Joseph, Rue de Damas, Beyrouth, Liban. nbassilnassif@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Nayla
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bassil-Nassif
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bouserhal
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Treil
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Braga
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Garcia
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods*; D002610:Cheek / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D005145:Face / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D009055:Mouth / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D009666:Nose / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D009915:Orbit / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D010256:Paranasal Sinuses / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D055815:Young Adult