Radiological diagnosis of the auditory ossicles in chronic otitis media by multidirectional tomography (author's transl)

Abstract

The radiological, pathological anatomy of the auditory ossicles was studied on the multidirec-tional tomograms of the temporal bone. The tomograms of the dissected temporal bone were examined before and after removing the incus on the anterior-posterior projection. The cochlear and intermediate planes were the most appropriate tnmograms for evaluating the ossicles. That is, the malleus head, the manubrium and the incus body were clearly discernible on the tomogram of the cochlear plane, whereas the body and the long process of the incus could be distilctly obse-rved on the tomogram of the intermediate plane.The unaffected ears of patients with chronic otitis media were investigated as a control study.In normal ears, the malleus head was the only constantly visible figure on the cochlear plane and the incus body on the intermediate plane.As the clinical study, the findings in the tomograms of 28 infected ears before surgery were compared with those of the ossicles at surgery. When the malleus head could be clearly visible on the tomogram, the intact malleus head was macroscopically found at the operation, and vice versa.When the incus body was clearly visible, the intact incus body was macroscopically noted at the operation, and vice versa. It was concluded that the malleus head and the incus body could be evaluated by multidirectional tomography in chronic otitis media. It was my impression that mul-tidirectional tomography could offer the valuable information for the treatment of chronic otitis media.