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Otosclerosis: Temporal Bone Pathology
Alicia M Quesnel1, Reuven Ishai2, Michael J McKenna1
1Division of Otology and Neurotology, Department of Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, 243 Charles Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Massachusetts Eye and Ear Otopathology Laboratory, 243 Charles Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Otolaryngology, Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck Street, Boston MA 02115, USA.
Abstract:
Otosclerosis is pathologically characterized by abnormal bony remodeling, which includes bone resorption, new bone deposition, and vascular proliferation in the temporal bone. Sensorineural hearing loss in otosclerosis is associated with extension of otosclerosis to the cochlear endosteum and deposition of collagen throughout the spiral ligament. Persistent or recurrent conductive hearing loss after stapedectomy has been associated with incomplete footplate fenestration, poor incus-prosthesis connection, and incus resorption in temporal bone specimens. Human temporal bone pathology has helped to define the role of computed tomography imaging for otosclerosis, confirming that computed tomography is highly sensitive for diagnosis, yet limited in assessing cochlear endosteal involvement.
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