Epitympanum volume and tympanic isthmus area in temporal bones with retraction pockets

Rafael da Costa Monsanto, Henrique Furlan Pauna, Serdar Kaya, Ömer Hızlı, Geeyoun Kwon, Michael M. Paparella, Sebahattin Cureoglu

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objectives/Hypothesis: To compare the volume of the epitympanic space, as well as the area of the tympanic isthmus, in human temporal bones with retraction pockets to those with chronic otitis media without retraction pockets and to those with neither condition. Study Design: Comparative human temporal bone study. Methods: We generated a three-dimensional model of the bony epitympanum and measured the epitympanic space. We also compared the area of the tympanic isthmus. Results: The mean total volume of the epitympanum was 40.55 ± 7.14 mm3 in the retraction pocket group, 50.03 ± 8.49 mm3 in the chronic otitis media group, and 48.03 ± 9.16 mm3 in the neither condition group. The mean volume of the anterior, lateral, and medial compartments in temporal bones in the retraction pocket group was significantly smaller than in the two control groups (P < 0.05). Total epitympanic volume was also significantly smaller in the retraction pocket group than in both control groups (P < 0.05). The mean area of the tympanic isthmus was significantly smaller in the retraction pocket group (8.11 ± 2.44 mm2) than in the chronic otitis media group (9.82 ± 2.06 mm2) or the neither condition group (10.66 ± 1.78 mm2) (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Our data indicate that temporal bones with retraction pockets have a smaller volume bony epitympanum and a smaller tympanic isthmus area as compared with temporal bones from both control groups. The smaller volume tympanic isthmus in the retraction pocket group may suggest that a blockage in the aeration pathways to the epitympanum could create dysventilation, resulting in negative pressure and ultimately in retraction pockets and cholesteatomas. Level of Evidence: NA Laryngoscope, 126:E369–E374, 2016.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)E369-E374
JournalLaryngoscope
Volume126
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 1 2016

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.

Keywords

  • 3D reconstruction
  • Epitympanum
  • human temporal bone
  • middle ear ventilation
  • retraction pockets
  • tympanic isthmus

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