The frontal sinus and mandibular growth prediction.

The skeletal growth patterns of 103 subjects with Class I and III malocclusions were cephalometrically analyzed as advocated by Ricketts el al. to assess abnormal mandibular growth. The surface area (mm2) of the frontal sinus was assessed by a Summagraphics decoder linked to a microcomputer. The results indicate that there is a significant correlation between maxillary length, mandibular length, symphysis width, condylar length, and frontal sinus size on a lateral cephalogram. The frontal sinus can possibly be used as an additional indicator when one is predicting mandibular growth.