[Persistent stapedial artery and chronic otitis: CTscan aspects, a clinical report]

The authors report a case of persistent stapedial artery in a young man who had a chronic ear infection with focus on the CT scan aspects. A review of the literature is done about this rare anomaly.

Some CT scan aspects (absence of the spinosum foramina, bony canal from the hypotympanum toward the promontory, enlargement of the 2nd portion of the Fallopian canal) are very likely in favor of this diagnosis and allow a preoparative suspicion. If necessary a more complete imaging check up could be performed for searching other malformations.