The evaluation of superior semicircular canal bone thickness and radiological patterns in relation to age and gender

The present study aims to evaluate the superior semicircular canal (SSC) bone thickness and radiological patterns in relation to age and gender in a Turkish population using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT).

A total of 450 temporal bones were evaluated in the study by two examiners. The radiological patterns of SSC were categorized as follows: dehiscent, papyraceous, normal, thick and pneumatised patterns. The bone thickness of SSCs were measured.

The mean bone thickness of the SSC for females was 1.079 ± 0.8 mm. For males, the mean bone thickness was 0.952 ± 0.6 mm. There was no significant difference between males and females for the mean bone thickness of the SSC. (p > 0.05) The normal pattern was found in 258 temporal bones (57.3%). Seventy-two cases (16%) were defined as "papyraceous pattern"; 23 cases (5.1%) were defined as "thick pattern" and 42 cases (9.3%) were defined as "pneumatised pattern". SSC dehiscence was determined in 55 cases (12.2%). There was no significant difference between radiological patterns for age groups and gender (p > 0.05).

There was no significant relationship between SSC bone thickness with age and gender. The radiological patterns of SSC were not associated with age and gender. Radiologists evaluating the head and neck region for various reasons should be aware of these structures and report not only the SSC dehiscence but also the papyraceous pattern.