Value of computed tomography in the preoperative evaluation to identify anatomical abnormalities of the middle ear in children with cholesteatoma: clinical case of lateral position of the sigmoid sinus

Abstract

The lateral position of the sigmoid sinus is a significant indentation of its sulcus into the lateral wall of the skull, the sigmoid sinus is located lateral to the antrum. This anomaly is rare, occurs in 5–10%. Computerized tomography of temporal bones is performed for all patients with chronic middle ear disease. CT of the temporal bones visualizes in detail the anatomy of the temporal bone. Preoperative diagnosis of lateral position of the sigmoid sinus is very important and determines the choice of a surgical approach to the middle ear during surgery. Clinical observation of a child (14 years) with cholesteatoma of the middle ear is presented in this article. CT tomograms visualized lateral position of the sigmoid sinus. However, the lateral position of the sigmoid sinus was not taken into account when choosing the surgical approach. A transcortical approach to the middle ear was chosen in this clinical observation. Therefore, there was the inevitable and unreasonable denudation of the sigmoid sinus, the difficulty in performing an operation due to the risk of injury. In the reoperation, surgical approach to the middle ear was performed through the tympanic cavity. This avoided dangerous contact with the sigmoid sinus and effectively remove cholesteatoma.