Computed Tomographic Study of the Temporal Bone of Chronic Otitis Media Patients

Nam, Seung Il; Goh, Eui Kyung; Lee, Chang Hun; Kim, Yu Chan; Koo, Soo Kweon; Lee, Sang Hwa; Chon, Kyong Myong

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Computed tomography plays a role in the evaluation of many temporal bone disorders and provides us a lot of information preoperatively. The objectives of this study is to get various measurements of the temporal bone, and to compare the normal ear groups with the diseased ear group. Materials and Method: The measurements on CT were the distance from the outer cortical plate of bone to the sigmoid sinus, the distance from the posterior semicircular canal to the sigmoid sinus, the distance from the fallopian canal to the sigmoid sinus, mastoid width, the depth of the sinus tympani, the distance from the external auditory canal to the sigmoid sinus, the distance from the outer cortical plate of bone to the lateral semicircular canal, and the level of jugular bulb.
RESULTS
The distance from the posterior semicircular canal to the sigmoid sinus of adult group was longer than that of adolescent group (p<0.05). In diseased ear group, the distance from the posterior semicircular canal to the sigmoid sinus and the depth of sinus tympani of adult group were longer than those of adolescent age group (p<0.05). In adult group, the distance from the posterior semicircular canal to the sigmoid sinus and the distance from the posterior wall of the external auditory canal to the sigmoid sinus of diseased ear group were significantly shorter (p<0.05).
CONCLUSION
We could get various measurements of the temporal bone on CT and we expect that they would be useful for middle ear surgery.