Open AccessMultiple Otosclerotic Foci: Impact on Cochlear Function
Author(s) -
Richard Celine,
Doherty Joni K.,
Treadway Jamie P.,
Fayad Jose N.,
Linthicum Frederick H.
Publication year - 2012
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 - 10.1177/0194599812451426a284
Subject(s) - otosclerosis , round window , cochlea , oval window , sensorineural hearing loss , hearing loss , audiology , medicine , temporal bone , anatomy , stapes , middle ear
Objective Quantify and illustrate the location of otosclerosic foci using morphologic images and 3D reconstruction. Evaluate the impact of multiple otosclerotic foci on hearing loss. Method We investigated our histopathological collection to identify all the temporal bones with: 1) oval window otosclerosis (n = 200), 2) oval window and multiple otosclerotic foci (n = 35), 3) oval window plus cochlear otosclerosis (n = 133), and 4) oval window foci with cochlear and multiple other otosclerotic foci (n = 31). Foci were tabulated for each specimen. Cochlear function (hearing) and morphology (otosclerotic foci quantity and location) were compared. Results Of 574 temporal bones with evidence of otosclerosis, 67 had multiple foci. Ectopic foci were found in the internal auditory canal, the peri‐carotid area, semicircular canals and anterior to the cochlea. There was no influence of the number of foci (not involving the cochlea) on hearing loss and cochlear morphology. Conclusion This is the first systematic evaluation of the number and location of ectopic multiple otosclerotic foci. As previously reported, there is a relationship between cochlear otosclerosis and sensorineural hearing loss, however the addition of other foci does not affect hearing.