title: Classification of the maxillary sinus according to area of the medial antral wall: a comparison of two ethnic groups.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study is an anatomical study designed to benefit surgeons working in the region of the maxillary sinus. This paper investigates ethnic and gender variations in the shape of the maxillary sinus in dried crania from the Raymond Dart collection of human skeletons. The paper claims that an estimate of the area of the medial antral wall of the maxillary sinus is one of the best ethnic/gender group predictors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Helical, multislice computed tomography was performed using 1mm coronal slices length, depth, width and volume measurements for each sinus were taken. Classification by shape and estimated area of medial wall was attempted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Shape classification was found to be unsuccessful whilst medial wall classification into ethnic/gender groupings gave encouraging results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The area of the medial wall is related to ethnic/gender groups.
authors.affiliation: Chelmsford Medical Center, St. Augustines Hospital, Durban, South Africa  ; PO Box 61, Umhlanga Rocks, Kwa Zulu Natal, 4320 South Africa.
authors.forename: Fernandes Carmen
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: C M C
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Murrell
keywords: Computed tomography; Correspondence analysis; Functional endoscopic sinus surgery; Maxillary sinus; Shape classification