Application of 10 μm otology CT on evaluation of isolated malleus fixation in patients with conductive hearing loss

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the application of 10 μm otology CT on evaluation of isolated malleus fixation (IMF) in patients with conductive hearing loss. Methods: A total of 19 patients (25 sides) with idiopathic hearing loss, including 8 males and 11 females, aged between 4 to 50 years, who underwent 10 μm otology CT examination in Department of Radiology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University from October 2020 to July 2021, were retrospectively collected. For those patients with idiopathic hearing loss, there were 5 cases (6 sides), including 2 males and 3 females, with an average age of 18-70 [65(20,68)] years, with bony connection between malleus and tympanum wall. Eighteen sex-and age-matched cases with normal hearing group, including 6 males and 12 females, with an average age of 20-68 (39±14) years, as the ratio of 1∶3, were included as the controls. The distances of the tegmen tympani between malleus head and horizontal semicircular canal, as well the distances between malleus head and horizontal semicircular canal were retrospectively measured and further compared between the two groups. Results: The incidence of IMF in patients with idiopathic conductive hearing loss without other etiologies was 24.0% (6/25). The specificity of 10 μm otology CT in diagnosing IMF was 100%. The distances of tegmen tympani between horizontal semicircular canal and malleus head in IMF patients were significantly smaller compared with the controls [-0.65(-1.21, -0.35) mm vs 1.34(0.04, 1.68) mm;0.92(0.51, 1.49) mm vs 2.82(1.76, 3.53) mm](both P<0.05, respectively). There was no significant difference in distances between malleus head and horizontal semicircular canal [-1.30 (-1.90, -0.46)mm vs -0.42 (-1.15, 0.05),P=0.057]. Conclusions: IMF is not uncommon in conductive hearing loss without other causes, which can be clearly shown by 10 μm otology CT. Its occurrence is related to the local downward shift of tegmen tympani above the malleus, without upwards displacement of the malleus.