Abstract Otology 2000 A17-1

Tapio S. Karhuketo MD, J.J. Ilomäki MD, P.S. Dastidar MD, E.M. Laasonen Prof., H.J. Puhakka Prof.

ENT Department Tampere University Hospital SF-Tampere

Surgery of aural atresia is a demanding otological procedure. The complex and varying temporal bone anatomy associated with atresia is a challenge for otosurgery. A good understanding of the anatomy of an atretic ear will help a surgeon decide whether an operation is indicated, and is also beneficial in operative planning. We studied twenty-six congenital aural atresia ears (twenty-five patients) with two different imaging technologies in order to determine if it was possible to improve the anatomical overview of the atretic ears by combining the imaging methods. High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) gave good cross-sectional images of the tympanic cleft. Then, a superfine microvideoendoscope (SFV) was introduced via a nostril and through the Eustachian tube into the middle ear so that a topographic view of the middle ear structures could be visualized. Some structures were visualized more clearly with SFV than with HRCT, and vice-versa. We concluded that the combined information of the two imaging technologies provided a better understanding of the structural anatomy and more indicators to help decide on future operations of atretic ears.