Prevalence of Cochlear-Facial Dehiscence in a Study of 1, 020 Temporal Bone Specimens. Issue 7 (August 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fang, Christina H.; Chung, Sei Yeon; Blake, Danielle M.; Vazquez, Alejandro; Li, Chengrui; Carey, John P.; Francis, Howard W.; Jyung, Robert W.
• Is Part Of: Otology & neurotology. Volume 37:Issue 7(2016)
• Publication Date: 2016-08
• Subjects: Cochlear facial dehiscence -- Otic capsule dehiscence -- Otic capsule development -- Pseudoconductive hearing loss -- Sensorineural hearing loss -- Temporal bone study; Otology -- Periodicals; Ear -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Skull base -- Surgery -- Periodicals; 617.8005
• DOI: 10.1097/MAO.0000000000001057
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1531-7129

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: To determine the prevalence of cochlear-facial dehiscence (CFD) and to examine the influence of otic capsule area, age, sex, and race on CFD. Study Design: Descriptive study of archived temporal bone specimens. Materials and Methods: Targeted sections from 1, 020 temporal bone specimens were scanned and examined for CFD. Cochlear-facial partition width (CFPW) and otic capsule area (OCA), a marker of bone thickness, were measured using image analysis software. Demographic data were analyzed using multiple linear regression analysis. Results: The mean CFPW was 0.23 mm (range, 0–0.92 mm; SD, 0.15 mm). Six patients were completely dehiscent (0.59%). Fallopian canal width, age, sex, race, and OCA were found to be significant predictors of CFPW. Age was found to be negatively correlated with CFPW (β = −0.001) ( p < 0.005). Thicker CFPW was associated with males (β = 0.024) and non-Caucasian individuals (β = 0.031). The mean OCA for dehiscent specimens (mean, 9.48 mm 2 ; range, 6.65–11.58 mm 2 ; SD 3.21 mm 2 ) was significantly smaller than the mean OCA for nondehiscent specimens, (mean, 12.88 mm 2 ; range, 6.63–21.92 mm 2 ; SD, 2.47 mm 2 ) ( p < 0.01). Conclusion: CFD occurred in nearly 0.6% of specimens in this temporal bone collection. Close to 35% of patients were sufficiently thin (<0.1 mm) to appear dehiscent on computed tomography scanning. Smaller OCA correlated with thinner CFPW, suggesting a developmental factor. Older, female, and Caucasian patients may have a greater risk for CFD and its associated symptoms.