Correlation analysis between CT values of cochlear bone labyrinth and auditory function and disease progression in...

To investigate the correlation between CT values of cochlear bone labyrinth (HU, as a radiological alternative indicator of bone mineral density) and auditory function and disease progression in patients with chronic suppurative otitis media.

A retrospective collection of clinical data was conducted on 128 patients diagnosed with chronic suppurative otitis media who visited the Otolaryngology Department of our hospital from May 2023 to May 2025. All patients underwent high-resolution CT scans of the temporal bone. Parallel pure tone audiometry (including 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz air and bone conduction thresholds) and speech recognition rate testing were performed. Pearson analysis was used to investigate the correlation. A multiple linear regression model was carried out to analyze independent factors.

The CT values of the affected ear in the basal transition area of the cochlear bone labyrinth were significantly lower than the healthy ear (P < 0.001). Patients with cholesteatoma type CSOM had lower ear basal to CT values compared to patients with simple CSOM (P < 0.001). There was a negative correlation between the basal to CT values of the affected ear and the bone conduction hearing thresholds at various frequencies, and the correlation was increased with increasing frequency (P < 0.001, 0.5 kHz: r = -0.355; 4 kHz: r = -0.521). The CT value was positively correlated with speech recognition rate (r = 0.427, P < 0.001), and significantly negatively correlated with disease duration (r = -0.430, P < 0.001). After adjusting for other influencing factors, disease duration (β = -11.284, P < 0.001), age (β = -7.693, P = 0.001), age of initial treatment (β = 5.827, P = 0.010), and type of otitis media (β = -48.326, P = 0.003) were independent factors associated with basal to CT values. In addition, basal to CT value (β = -0.018, P < 0.001), disease duration (β = 0.517, P < 0.001), age (β = 0.284, P = 0.004), and type of otitis media (β = 6.194, P = 0.002) were independent factors correlated with bone conduction hearing threshold (4 kHz).

The course of illness, age, and presence of cholesteatoma are independent factors associated with CT values and hearing loss. Changes in the bony structure of the inner ear and early intervention may help protect auditory function.