OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the preoperative virtual CT endoscopy about the simple congenital middle ear malformations and its clinical application. METHOD: Thirteen cases (16 ears) with simple congenital middle ear malformations were undergone high resolution CT scannig to collect the original image data, followed by 3-dimensional reconstruction to process the images to evaluate the possible lesions of the ossicular chain. Then, a comparative analysis was made between the finding of virtual CT endotoscopic and the finding that actually found during the operation of the ossicular chain lesions. RESULT: We found malleus and upper strcture of incus abnormity or embeded in upper inner wall of atticus in 5 ears; malleus, incus and stape all abnormity or absence in 3 ears, in the former two conditions we both selected auricular incision through attic pathway remaining intact canal wall; we found crus longum incudis hypoplasia orstructure suprastapedialis absence,stapes aberrance or absence in 8 ears, then we selected vestibular window fenestration and artificial stapes surgery. Postoperative external auditory canals and tympanic membranes were intact in 16 ears,and speech frequency hearing improved by average of 25-45 dB. The coincidence between virtual CT endoscopy and the ossicular chain abnormity under operating views were 100% in cases with congenital ear deformity. CONCLUSION: Virtual CT endoscopy is a reliable reference for preoperative evaluation on congenital middle ear malformations.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the preoperative virtual CT endoscopy about the simple congenital middle ear malformations and its clinical application. METHOD: Thirteen cases (16 ears) with simple congenital middle ear malformations were undergone high resolution CT scannig to collect the original image data, followed by 3-dimensional reconstruction to process the images to evaluate the possible lesions of the ossicular chain. Then, a comparative analysis was made between the finding of virtual CT endotoscopic and the finding that actually found during the operation of the ossicular chain lesions. RESULT: We found malleus and upper strcture of incus abnormity or embeded in upper inner wall of atticus in 5 ears; malleus, incus and stape all abnormity or absence in 3 ears, in the former two conditions we both selected auricular incision through attic pathway remaining intact canal wall; we found crus longum incudis hypoplasia orstructure suprastapedialis absence,stapes aberrance or absence in 8 ears, then we selected vestibular window fenestration and artificial stapes surgery. Postoperative external auditory canals and tympanic membranes were intact in 16 ears,and speech frequency hearing improved by average of 25-45 dB. The coincidence between virtual CT endoscopy and the ossicular chain abnormity under operating views were 100% in cases with congenital ear deformity. CONCLUSION: Virtual CT endoscopy is a reliable reference for preoperative evaluation on congenital middle ear malformations.