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[Analysis of the positive rate of otitis media in 1-12 years old children based on brain MRI]
Xiangzhen Gai1, Wuxuan Li2, Fenfen Dou2
1School of Public Health，Shandong University，Ji'nan，250022，China.
Insights
Cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed otitis media in 10.62% of children aged 1-12. Boys had a higher incidence than girls, and the positive rate decreased with age, particularly after age two.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric imaging
- Otology
- Radiology
Context:
- Otitis media is a common childhood infection.
- Cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers detailed visualization of middle ear and mastoid structures.
- Understanding the incidence and demographic variations of otitis media in children is crucial for diagnosis and management.
Purpose:
- To determine the positive imaging rate of otitis media in children aged 1-12 years using cranial MRI.
- To analyze the incidence of otitis media and mastoiditis based on age, gender, and ear laterality.
- To investigate the correlation between age and the positive rate of otitis media in pediatric populations.
Summary:
- A study of 12,439 children using cranial MRI found a 10.62% positive rate for otitis media.
- The incidence was significantly higher in males (67.52%) compared to females (32.48%), with a 1.84 times greater likelihood in boys.
- The positive rate showed a negative correlation with age, with a notable decline after age two, possibly due to physiological changes in the mastoid and middle ear.
Impact:
- Cranial MRI effectively identifies middle ear inflammation and mastoid effusion in pediatric tympanitis.
- Findings suggest age-related physiological changes influence otitis media incidence in children.
- This research provides valuable data for pediatricians and radiologists regarding the prevalence and patterns of otitis media in children.
Abstract:
Objective:To investigate the positive imaging rate of otitis media in children aged 1-12 years by analyzing the positive rate of otitis media suggested by cranial magnetic resonance imaging（MRI） images in children. Methods:By collecting the brain MRI images of children aged 1-12 in Department of Otolaryngology, Jinan children's Hospital from January 2014 to December 2020, the overall incidence of otitis media and mastoiditis was firstly determined, and then it was divided into 12 age groups according to age, each age group was split into boy and girl groups according to gender, each group was divided into left, right and bilateral groups, with the changes of otitis media and mastoiditis in the scanning field as the positive standard statistical analysis of the results. Results:Among 12 439 children in the study, 1321 cases were diagnosed with tympanitis, with a positive rate of 10.62%. Among them, 892 patients were male, with a positive rate of 67.52%, and 429 cases were female, with a positive rate of 32.48%. The positive rate of the male was higher than that of female children, 1.84 times higher than that of female children. The positive momentum in male and female children was negatively correlated with age （P<0.01）. The favorable rates of male children in the left ear, right ear, and both ears were higher than those in female children of the same age（P<0.05）. There was no difference in the positive rate of the left and right ear in children with tympanitis （P=0.76）. Conclusion:Craniocerebral MRI examination in children with tympanitis can clarify the inflammation of the middle ear cavity and the effusion in the mastoid air chamber. The positive rate of children at two years old showed a steep decline, which may be due to the acceleration of mastoid gasification, the change of tympanic environment, the increase of air chamber in the tympanic room, the evolution of air pressure could offset the negative pressure caused by poor Eustachian tube function, to reduce the incidence of tympanitis.
