KBB-Forum 2021 , Cilt 20, Sayı 2

THREE- DIMENSIONAL MORPHOMETRIC EVALUATION OF ANTERIOR EPITYMPANIC RECESS AND COG PROCESS IN TEMPORAL BONES WITH PETROUS APEX PNEUMATIZATION

Tümay BEKCİ 1, MD; Serdar ASLAN 1, MD; Ömer HIZLI 2, MD;
1Giresun Üniversitesi, Tıp Fakültesi, Radyoloji ABD, Giresun, Turkey
2Balıkesir Üniversitesi, Tıp Fakültesi, KBB ABD, Balıkesir, Turkey Purpose: To assess the association of petrous apex pneumatization with Cog process length and anterior epitympanic recess volume using 3- dimensional reconstructed computerized tomography sections of the temporal bone, in this cross- sectional, radio-anatomical investigation.

Method: We measured anterior epitympanic recess volumes from three- dimensional models reconstructed on OsiriX software. The comparisons of Cog process lengths and anterior epitympanic recess volumes of the temporal bones with and without petrous apex pneumatization were performed.

Results: Cog process length was significantly lower, and AER volume was significantly higher in temporal bones with petrous apex pneumatization compared to the bones without (p=0.01 and p<0.001, respectively).

Conclusion: Pneumatization of petrous apex was found associated with a wider AER and shorter Cog process that might bring about a physiological advantage against retraction pocket development because of well- pneumatized epitympanum. Keywords : Epitympanum, Cog, tomography, temporal bone, 3D reconstruction