Open AccessEpitympanum Dimensions Do Not Correlate with Extent of Mastoid Pneumatization
Author(s) -
Villari Craig R.,
Todd N. Wendell
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
otolaryngology–head and neck surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.232
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1097-6817
pISSN - 0194-5998
DOI - 10.1177/0194599811415823a250
Subject(s) - crania , anatomy , coronal plane , dissection (medical) , mastoid process , cadaver , medicine
Objective The epitympanum is an anatomic region of great surgical importance, yet its dimensions have gone largely unstudied since Bezold in the 1800s. We investigated the radiologic dimensions of the epitympanum, compared these dimensions with those determined at anatomic dissection by Bezold, and compared them to mastoid pneumatization. Method Of 41 clinically normal human crania, the 5 with the smallest mastoid pneumatization areas and the 5 with the largest areas were imaged by high‐resolution computed tomography, both direct axial and direct coronal. The two authors measured the heights, breadths, and lengths independently. Results Wide ranges were found for epitympanum heights (5.0‐10.0 mm), breadths (6.0‐7.0 mm). and (lengths 9.5‐12.5 mm), and for mastoid sizes. The range of heights was wider than Bezold reports, but the range of breadths was tighter. Bilateral symmetry was found for mastoid pneumatization. Conclusion Epitympanic heights and breadths were generally consistent with the report by Bezold over 100 years ago. Epitympanic dimensions were unrelated to mastoid size.