CONCLUSION: No useful examination was available for morphological assessment of the eustachian tube cartilage (ETC) in living subjects, but evaluation of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging enables useful assessment of the eustachian tube (ET) and ETC during preoperative examination before ET surgery. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to investigate the usefulness of MR imaging for analysis and assessment of the ETC. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Analysis of MR images. RESULTS: The ETC could be demonstrated by oblique parasagittal MR imaging in most subjects, but was poorly defined in others, particularly in aged subjects. The ETC appeared as a hook-shaped structure with wide variability.
CONCLUSION: No useful examination was available for morphological assessment of the eustachian tube cartilage (ETC) in living subjects, but evaluation of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging enables useful assessment of the eustachian tube (ET) and ETC during preoperative examination before ET surgery. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to investigate the usefulness of MR imaging for analysis and assessment of the ETC. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Analysis of MR images. RESULTS: The ETC could be demonstrated by oblique parasagittal MR imaging in most subjects, but was poorly defined in others, particularly in aged subjects. The ETC appeared as a hook-shaped structure with wide variability.