Temporal bone pneumatisation: meta-analysis of its characteristics with implications for head and neck surgery

This meta-analysis was aimed at analysing the morphological and morphometric aspects of temporal bone pneumatisation based on literature data. We hope that our results may prove useful for physicians, especially head and neck surgeons performing procedures in the temporal bone region.

A systematic search was conducted in which all articles regarding temporal bone pneumatisation were sought. Major medical databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library were searched in a process conducted in three stages.

Overall, the analyses were based on the results of 3,482 patients. The pooled mean surface area of the mastoid air cell system in adults was found to be 174.68 cm² (SE = 29.58). In children (14-18 years) mean of the said parameter was found to be 114.36 cm² (SE = 44.21). The pooled mean volume of mastoid pneumatisation in adults was found to be 7.74 cm³ (SE = 1.14). The pooled mean volume of the temporal bone pneumatisation in adults was found to be 8.41 cm³ (SE = 0.58).

Our meta-analysis analysed the characteristics of TBP. Our results show the mean values of the morphometric properties of the air cell system in humans. This information may be highly significant when performing many otolaryngological procedures, such as mastoidectomies or skull base operations in the area of the petrous apex. Furthermore, our study results prove that the size of the air cells increases with age. We hope that our results may be useful for physicians operating on the temporal bone.