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Published on: May 23, 2021
Detection of the petrosquamosal sinus in chronic otitis media using high-resolution CT
Harukazu Hiraumi1, Akira Yamamoto, Norio Yamamoto
1Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan. hhiraumi@ent.kuhp.kyoto-u.ac.jp
Objective:
To evaluate the prevalence of the persistent petrosquamosal venous sinus in patients with chronic otitis media using a high-resolution CT scan.
Study Design:
Retrospective chart review.
Setting:
Tertiary referral center.
Subjects And Methods:
Eighty-four patients older than 6 years of age underwent surgery (in a total of 92 ears) for chronic otitis media at Kyoto University Hospital, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. We used high-resolution CT scans to evaluate the prevalence and size of persistent petrosquamosal sinuses, as well as their relative position to the middle fossa.
Results:
A petrosquamosal sinus was detected in 42 (45.7%), a higher frequency than in ears without chronic otitis media (10.3%). The diameter of the sinuses was <1.0 mm in 20 ears, 1.0 mm to 2.0 mm in 17 ears, and >2.0 mm in 5 ears. The petrosquamosal sinus was positioned inferior to the lowest part of the middle fossa in 10 ears.
Conclusion:
The petrosquamosal sinus was detected frequently in high-resolution CT scans in patients with chronic otitis media. In approximately half of the patients, the sinus was larger than 1 mm in diameter and may be encountered during mastoidectomy.
