Residual Mesenchyme in Temporal Bones of Children

The role of mesenchyme in the temporal bone is still poorly understood. A microscopic study of residual mesenchyme was undertaken in temporal bones of children from birth to 5 years of age. Residual mesenchyme was found to be located in the mastoid antrum and epitympanum more often than in the mesotympanum. The amount of mesenchymal tissue remaining in the temporal bones decreased with increasing age. Persistence of mesenchyme in the temporal bone was related to congenital morphologic ear anomalies and syndromes. There was also an association evident with pulmonary disease, but not with congenital heart defects. Persistent mesenchyme was also found to be significantly associated with chronic middle ear inflammation, and in cases of unilateral otitis media the ear with otitis media had more residual mesenchyme than the non-otitis media ear.     

Otitis media (silent): A potential cause of childhood meningitis

Sixteen temporal bones from 8 infants with otitis media, who died of meningitis, and 6 controls from infants with only otitis media, were studied histologically. All bones contained middle ear effusion and residual mesenchyme, but, unlike the controls, the meningitic cases showed considerable histopathological tissue changes of chronic and acute otitis media and chronic inflammatory cells in the round window membrane and within the perilymph, the modiolus, and the cochlear aqueduct, suggesting the latter as likely portals from the inner ear to the meninges. Since all tympanic membranes were intact and 3 were histologically normal, this silent route of infection warrants medical vigilance.     

慢性化脓性中耳炎及中耳胆脂瘤术前颞骨CT及耳内镜评估的意义

目的 探讨颞骨CT及耳内镜对慢性化脓性中耳炎静止期及中耳胆脂瘤术前评估的重要性。方法 回顾性分析慢性化脓性中耳炎静止期及中耳胆脂瘤患者42耳病历资料,从CT、耳内镜及术中发现进行分析。结果 ①根据CT结合术中所见,慢性化脓性中耳炎静止期CT分型分为单纯型、硬化灶型、肉芽型、硬化灶肉芽型。胆脂瘤型CT主要表现为听骨链消失或锤砧关节消失,乳突大部分呈硬化型,少部分为板障型,上鼓室鼓窦扩大,上鼓室、中鼓室甚至后鼓室乳突腔为软组织影占据,部分病例外半规管骨质破坏、面神经管水平段骨质破坏,部分病例外耳道后壁骨质破坏;单纯型CT示中耳鼓室乳突呈不完全气化型;硬化灶型CT示中耳鼓室乳突呈硬化型,病变局限于中鼓室,锤骨柄及镫骨周围有“类似骨质影”包裹;肉芽型、硬化灶肉芽型CT相似,示病变累及鼓室及乳突,听骨链基本完整,面神经管水平段骨质完整,但硬化灶型与肉芽型区别之处在于前者鼓室内听骨链周围有“类骨质”样散在高密度影。②耳内镜所见慢性化脓性中耳炎静止期鼓膜紧张部穿孔,鼓膜可有钙化斑;中耳胆脂瘤型则有上鼓室内陷或穿孔、后上象限穿孔、大穿孔、外耳道顶壁或后上壁下塌。结论 慢性化脓性中耳炎静止期及中耳胆脂瘤的术前CT及耳内镜评估,对病变性质、范围、程度及指导手术起重要作用。     

Silent otitis media

There is a traditional view that chronic otitis media and chronic mastoiditis must exist in the presence of a tympanic membrane perforation. Based on a human histopathological study of 123 temporal bones with chronic otitis media out of 333 temporal bones with all forms of otitis media pathology, only 24 patients (36 ears) had symptoms of otological disease recorded on their charts and only 19.5% of these had an associated tympanic membrane perforation. Unsuspected findings of chronic otitis media (active or inactive) are occasionally confirmed at exploratory tympanotomy. Such quiet chronic pathological findings in the middle ear have occurred in association with endolymphatic hydrops and cochlear end organ lesions suggesting the possibility that silent chronic otitis media may help explain sensorineural hearing loss, vertigo, and tinnitus for certain patients. We put forth the hypothesis that clinically undetectable silent otitis media in neonates and infants might help explain why certain children are otitis media prone. Our otopathology laboratory includes 111 ears harvested from neonates and infants (average age 8 months). Histological analysis revealed normal findings in some, whereas significant numbers of others show all forms of otitis media, including purulent otitis media, chronic otitis media, serous otitis media, and mucoid otitis media, with occasional overlap of types. Clinical implications will be discussed wth emphasis on silent otitis media and its relationship to the pathogenesis of otitis media and silent chronic otitis media and its possible role in causing insidious labyrinthine changes. A significant outcome of this study was the marked degree of unresolved mesenchyme in the clinically manifest otitis media group or silent otitis media group as compared to a control group. This association and role of mesenchyme is discussed relative to the pathogenesis of infantile otitis media.     

Primary papillary adenocarcinoma confined to the middle ear and mastoid

Primary adenocarcinoma is a rare tumor of the middle ear and temporal bone; its most frequent symptoms are hearing loss, otalgia, and facial paralysis. Otoscopic examination of a 27-year-old man revealed purulent discharge in the ear canal, diffuse edema, and hypertrophy of the right tympanic membrane. He presented with a grade III (House-Brachman) facial paralysis and right conductive hearing loss with a history of aural discharge for 6 months, otalgia, and facial weakness for 2 days. Computed tomography of the temporal bone showed an opacity filling the tympanic cavity, antrum, and aditus. Tympanotomy revealed diffuse edema of the middle ear mucosa, and granulation tissue was encountered during mastoidectomy filling the antrum and periantral cells and eroding the fallopian canal at the level of the oval window. After the histopathological examination revealed papillary adenocarcinoma, a subtotal temporal bone resection, facial nerve segmenter resection, and end-to-end anastomosis of the facial with the hypoglossal nerves were performed. The importance of histopathological examination in all cases of chronic otitis media with granulation tissue is stressed. Received: 9 February 2000 / Accepted: 5 September 2000     

Computed tomography of the temporal bone in diagnosis of adhesive otitis media

CT of the temporal bone was made in 64 patients (age 2 to 66 years) with adhesive otitis media (AOM), in 21 of them AOM was bilateral. A total of 85 series of temporal bone tomograms were analysed. CT confirmed AOM in 62 cases, detected otosclerosis in 7 cases, local malformation of the auditory ossicula and/or labyrinthine windows in 11 cases. In 5 cases CT picture was normal. CT symptoms of AOM in the patients were the following: soft tissue streaks and/or sites of soft tissue density fixing the auditory ossicula or blocking niches of the labyrinthine windows (31 temporal bone), sclerosis or ossification of the middle ear ligaments and tendons (7 temporal bones), foci of calcification in the tympanic cavity (9 cases), osteosclerotic changes in the epitympanium (2 cases), scarry alterations of the tympanic membrane (24 cases), destructive alterations of the auditory ossicula (19 temporal bones). Thus, there is evidence for CT ability to differentiate between adhesive otitis media, otosclerosis and congenital anomalies of middle ear structures.     

结核性中耳乳突炎的临床特征及疗效分析

目的 探讨结核性中耳乳突炎的临床特点以及手术疗效.方法 回顾性分析经病理学证实的16例(18耳)结核性中耳乳突炎的临床表现、影像学特征以及治疗方法,并随访其预后.结果 16例(18耳)患者均表现为耳流脓、听力下降,并发重度感音神经性聋患者3例(4耳),并发周围性面神经麻痹患者3例.16例颞骨高分辨率CT均表现为鼓室、乳突充满软组织密度影,其中骨质破坏11例(12耳),颞骨内存在死骨7例(7耳).16例患者中伴发肺结核7例.15例患者接受了手术治疗去除病灶并联合抗结核治疗.除2例患者术前经穿孔的鼓膜取活检明确诊断为结核性中耳乳突炎外,其余14例患者均为术中或者术后确诊.除1例患者失访外其余15例患者均随访1年以上,中耳乳突结核无复发,3例面神经麻痹患者基本恢复正常.结论 对于顽固性耳流脓,影像学提示鼓室、乳突充满软组织密度影且存在骨质破坏或者死骨者,应仔细询问是否有结核病史,以便鉴别结核性中耳乳突炎.手术去除病灶并结合抗结核治疗对该病有较高的治愈率.     

中耳炎鼓室窦CT分型与手术方式初探

目的 回顾性分析90例中耳炎患耳鼓室窦CT分型,旨在探讨耳内镜与显微镜手术处理后鼓室病变的适应证。 方法 所有患者术前行颞骨高分辨CT检查,记录鼓室窦CT分型(鼓室窦与面神经的关系),统计各型的例数和比例。 结果 90例患耳的鼓室窦CT分型:A型43耳(47.78%),B型45耳(50%),C型2耳(2.22%)。 结论 鼓室窦CT分型以A型和B型居多, 内镜中耳手术适合在中耳炎手术中推广,但C型鼓室窦的最佳手术方式仍是显微镜中耳手术。     

听骨链CT扫描并三维重建的临床应用

目的:探讨CT仿真内镜(CTVE)显示中耳正常结构的显示方法,评价中耳病变特别是听骨链连接状态的价值及意义,确立显示听骨链及其他中耳结构的位点和方法。方法:选择40例无耳科疾病的志愿者(正常组)和30例疑有中耳疾病的患者(病例组),分别采用德国西门子(Siemens SOMATOM Sensation 16)螺旋CT机Inner Ear扫描程序对患者进行轴位扫描,重建原始图像,用Fly-through软件经选择的A、B、C点入路进行CTVE成像研究。重点显示听骨链连接状态,并对慢性中耳炎的显示结果与手术中探查图像进行对照。结果:正常组CTVE中锤骨、砧骨、鼓岬、面神经管水平段、外半规管隆凸显示率均为100%;而镫骨头、两足弓的显示率在3个显示层面则分别为57.5%、70.0%,97.5%;圆窗、卵圆窗为90.0%、93.0%、97.5%。在中耳炎、外伤、颞骨畸形等情况下可显示听小骨损伤、移位、中断、缺失和畸形。结论:CTVE在显示3个听小骨之间的链接关系(如中断等方面)有一定优势。通过选择恰当的入路,CTVE在显示听小骨及其链接关系以及病理状态方面有相当优势。通过比较CTVE在3个不同显示层面观察镫骨的能力,明确CTVE是断层影像的有利补充。     

中耳炎颞骨咽鼓管峡部粘-软骨膜的组织病理学观察

目的：了解中耳炎性病咽鼓管峡部粘－软骨膜的影响。方法：用光镜对３２耳各型中耳炎颞骨（中耳炎组）与５０耳正常颞骨（正常组）标本连续切片的咽这峡部粘－软骨膜，中耳腔鼓岬粘骨组织病理学比较观察。结果：中耳炎组和正常组颞骨标本咽鼓管峡部均无病理性阻塞；中耳炎组峡部粘－软骨膜厚度测量和病理观察，未见有明显炎症改变，与正常组比较无明显差异；而其中耳腔粘骨膜均明显炎症病变。这种炎症截然不同反应的界限恰好在咽这的     

The thickness and the pathological findings of the tympanic membranes in otitis media with effusion--a pathological study of the temporal bone

The purpose of this study is to examine the relation of the grade of the inflammation of the middle ear and the pathological findings of the tympanic membranes using human serial horizontal sections from 16 temporal bones with otitis media with effusion. As controls, we used 96 normal temporal bones. The results were as follows. 1) In cases with a lot of inflammation cells in the middle ear effusion, there were seen much pathological changes in the epidermal layer and the intermediate layer. 2) In the pars flaccida and the posterior point of the malleus handle were noted remarkable changes. 3) The greater part of the cells of the middle ear effusion was neutrophils.     

First forty-eight hours of developing otitis media: an experimental study

The early inflammatory changes in the tympanic membrane were explored in 2 rat models. Acute otitis media was induced by instillation of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 3 into the middle ear cavity, and otitis media with effusion was induced by blockage of the eustachian tube. Otomicroscopic examination was performed before the rats were painlessly sacrificed at 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, or 48 hours after initiation of the otitis media conditions. The tympanic membrane was studied by light and electron microscopy. Both acute otitis media and otitis media with effusion caused early inflammatory changes of the tympanic membrane, and the pars flaccida was the portion that reacted first. The inflammatory alterations were most pronounced in the acute otitis media model. The course of inflammation showed a bimodal pattern with an early deposition of a filamentous material with a band pattern, typical of fibrin. Despite a fluid-filled middle ear cavity, the inflammatory changes in the otitis media with effusion model were moderate, as was consistent with the clinical appearance of the tympanic membrane.     

Temporal bone study of residual mastoid inflammation in ears with normally appearing tympanic membrane

We examined 395 temporal bones with an intact tympanic membrane to explore the relationship between residual inflammation in the middle ear cavity and development of mastoid pneumatization. Histopathological changes were studied in the middle ear cavity. Mastoid pneumatization was classified as good or poor based on the extent of mastoid tip development to the lateral semicircular canal. Specimens were 344 temporal bones with well-pneumatized mastoid and 51 with poorly-pneumatized mastoid. Otitis media was noted in 119 (34.6%) bones in the good group and 9 (17.6%) in the poor group. In well-pneumatized mastoid, chronic inflammatory changes were frequently observed at the lower portion of mastoid cells, the round window niche, and the tympanic sinus. In contrast, no such incidence of inflammatory change was noted in poorly-pneumatized mastoid. Our findings indicate that an intact tympanic membrane does not always mean freedom from mastoid inflammation, especially when the mastoid is well-pneumatized. This makes it important to check for possible remaining otitis media in patients with a well-pneumatized mastoid, even if the tympanic membrane appears normal.     

耳内切口耳内镜联合显微镜中耳手术

目的 探讨耳内切口耳内镜联合显微镜中耳手术,治疗慢性中耳炎及中耳胆脂瘤的手术分组方式、手术特点及治疗效果.方法 189例(195耳)慢性中耳炎及中耳胆脂瘤,根据颞骨CT检查所见分3组进行耳内切口耳内镜联合显微镜中耳手术,1组:上鼓室开放术;2组:上鼓室-鼓窦开放术;3组:上鼓室-鼓窦-乳突开放术.于术中对各组中耳病变情...     

Pathology and pathogenesis of tympanic membrane retraction

Temporal bones without evidence of otitis media, as well as temporal bones with various types of otitis media, were examined for the presence of retractions of the tympanic membrane and their related histopathologic progression to the formation of cholesteatoma. Retractions were not present in non-otitis media, purulent, or mucoid otitis media. Retractions were observed in 2.1% of temporal bones with serous otitis media and 19.5% of temporal bones with chronic otitis media. All temporal bones with retractions demonstrated evidence of current or previous otitis media. Histopathologic changes of the middle ear cleft were associated with the type and degree of retraction. This study supports the continuum theory according to which otitis media with effusion eventually leads to a variety of sequelae and/or to chronic otitis media. The tympanic membrane appears to follow progressive changes, from simple retraction to retraction pockets and finally to cholesteatoma.     

The effect of chronic middle ear inflammation on the pneumatization of the tympanic bulla in pigs

The effect of chronic middle ear inflammation on the pneumatization of the tympanic bulla was investigated in piglets. The pig tympanic bulla has an air cell system which is divided by trabeculae and closely resembles the human mastoid air cell system. The tympanic bulla and its air cell system in normal ears were well developed because of the bone formation and the bone resorption inside the cortex, whereas the tympanic bulla affected by chronic otitis media in the early stages of life exhibited retardation of pneumatization arising from the disturbed bone resorption by inflammatory stimulus. It was concluded that affliction with chronic middle ear inflammation in the early stages of life causes inhibition of pneumatization by hindering the development of the air cell system.     

Unusual otologic manifestation of chronic lymphocytic leukemia

The first reported case of a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, who 14 years after diagnosis developed bilateral symmetrical ear lobe swelling secondary to lymphocytic infiltrates and its management, is presented. The various otologic and specific skin manifestations of leukemia are discussed and the literature reviewed. The temporal bone findings take the form of leukemic infiltrations, inflammation, and hemorrhage. These may present as a red or thickened tympanic membrane, hemotympanum, exudates in the middle ear, acute otitis media, mastoiditis, conductive or sensori-neural hearing loss, dizziness, vertigo or facial paralysis. The specific skin manifestations take the form of nodules, papules, infiltrations, plaques, ulcerations and exfoliative erythroderma. These may present as skin lesions most commonly in the head and neck area, rarely presenting in the auricle and ear canal.     

Intractable otitis media - Pathogenesis and treatment of Eosinophilic otitis media (EOM) and otitis media with Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) -associated vasculitis (OMAAV)

Intractable otitis media is resistant to antimicrobial therapy, tympanostomy ventilation tube insertion, and surgery. In children, intractable acute otitis media, pathological tympanic membrane due to prolonged otitis media with effusion (OME), tympanic membrane atelectasis, and adhesive otitis media are common. Contrarily, in adults, otitis media caused by drug-resistant pathogens, tuberculous otitis media, cholesterol granuloma, malignant otitis externa (skull base osteomyelitis), eosinophilic otitis media (EOM), and otitis media with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (OMAAV) are common and require differentiation. Among them, EOM is increasing along with eosinophilic upper respiratory tract diseases, such as bronchial asthma and eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis (ECRS), a subgroup of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). EOM is associated with adult-onset bronchial asthma and is characterized by viscous middle ear effusion and middle ear mucosa thickness with eosinophilic infiltration, which requires treatment with glucocorticoids according to disease activity and symptoms. Recently, OMAAV was proposed because of the similarities in clinical features and therapeutic effects. The clinical course of OMAAV is characterized by a relatively rapid increase in the bone conductive hearing threshold, which progresses over 1-2 months, without response to antimicrobial agents or tympanostomy ventilation tube insertion, and in some cases, is complicated by facial paralysis and hypertrophic pachymeningitis. This new concept may explain the pathogenesis and clinical presentation of many cases of intractable otitis media, the cause of which was previously unknown. Although making a diagnosis of OMAAV is relatively easy based on the clinical course, such as vascular dilatation of the tympanic membrane and positive ANCA titer, it is often difficult because the ANCA titer becomes negative with previous administration of glucocorticoids. In adults with intractable otitis media, ANCA titers must be measured before glucocorticoid administration. Treatment consisted of remission induction therapy with a combination of glucocorticoids and immunosuppressive drugs.     

Skull base osteomyelitis following a mastoidectomy

Skull base osteomyelitis is a rare but life-threatening condition that is characterized by osteitis of the temporal bone and skull base. Although skull base osteomyelitis is recognized as a rare complication of malignant external otitis or middle ear infection, it may also occur following a mastoidectomy. We present a case of an 81-year-old woman who suffered severe otalgia with normal-looking EAC and tympanic membrane that developed six weeks following a canal wall up mastoidectomy. Otalgia was the only abnormal feature to suspect occurrence of skull base osteomyelitis.     

Surgical anatomy of tympano-mastoid segment of facial nerve

Objective  Facial nerve is known to have a considerable variations more so in the temporal bone. An otologist with inadequate familiarity with facial nerve usually have a tendency to do incomplete surgery in chronic suppurative otitis media. The present study was conducted to explore the microanatomy of tympanic and mastoid segments of facial nerve. Setting  Temporal bone lab. Materials and Methods  This study was conducted at PGIMS Rohtak in 25 wet temporal bones which were dissected under the microscope. Various parameters studied included the length of tympanic and mastoid segments of facial nerve, various anomalies, depth from the cortex and relation to various important structures. Results  The mean length of tympanic segment was 11.1 mm±0.88 and mastoid segment was 15.4 mm±2.4. The angle at second genu was 95–125° and the facial canal was dehiscent in 12% cases. Conclusions  The tympanomastoid segment of facial nerve has variations in length and in its relation with various middle ear structures. Further the nerve, in Indians is also at variance as compared to Japanese and Americans probably because of different racial configuration of the skull.