[Congenital absence of the stapes suprastructure].

Congenital absence of the stapes suprastructure is an unusual anomaly, consequence of a developmental aberration involving partial absence of a derivate from the second branchial arch. Sometimes, exploratory tympanotomy may be the only mean of diagnosis when known conductive hearing loss is seen. This anomaly can appear isolated or associated to other major or minor anomalies. The treatment is surgical. We review the literature about the absence of the isolated stapes suprastructure.