Stapes visualization by ultra-high resolution CT in cadaveric heads: A preliminary study.

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Otolaryngology
• Anatomy

Background:

• Accurate visualization of the stapes is crucial for diagnosing middle ear pathologies and planning surgical interventions.
• Traditional CT methods may have limitations in resolving the fine details of the stapes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of ultra-high resolution computed tomography (U-HRCT) in visualizing the intricate structures of the human stapes.
• To compare the image quality of U-HRCT with multislice CT (MSCT) for stapes assessment.

Main Methods:

• Sixty human cadaveric ears were scanned using both U-HRCT and 128-section MSCT.
• Image quality of various stapes components was assessed using a 3-point Likert scale by multiple observers.
• Linear measurements of stapes dimensions were performed on U-HRCT images.

Main Results:

• U-HRCT demonstrated significantly superior image quality compared to MSCT for most stapes structures, with good to excellent interobserver agreement.
• Detailed linear measurements of stapes height, obturator foramen dimensions, crura width, footplate thickness, and incudostapedial joint angle were obtained.
• The interobserver agreement for qualitative scores on U-HRCT was good to excellent (0.65-0.86).

Conclusions:

• U-HRCT offers excellent delineation of fine stapes structures, surpassing conventional MSCT.
• The precise linear data provided by U-HRCT can aid in the detection of stapes diseases and facilitate personalized surgical planning.