Scanning electron microscopy in a case of infantile inborn deafness

The temporal bones of a one-year-old, congenitally deaf boy were removed 3 1/2 days post mortem, fixed in formaldehyde and prepared for scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In the apical coil the organ of Corti had the normal configuration. In the second coil there was a continuous decrease of both the number of sensory cells and their conservation. Altered sensory cells with giant or bullous distended hairs were found. Throughout the basal coil the hairs of the sensory cells were absent, while the other cells of the organ of Corti appeared normal.