[Radio-anatomical study of the external auditory canal. Comparison between anatomical pieces and x-ray computed...

Ear canal CT scan is widely used in addition to clinical examination, for diagnosis and evaluation of disease extension. Ear mouldings were performed on 11 cadavers (22 mouldings), 5 measurements were taken on each specimen and compared with CT scan measurement. Moulding measurements varied from side to side in one specimen, and moreover from one specimen on another one. Comparison between mouldings and CT scan showed that medial meatus measurements are identical. On the other hand, there are wide gaps for the lateral measurements. Biometrical disparity of the external auditory canal (EAC) was confirmed by this study. CT scan measurements in the lateral portion of the EAC are not reliable. Quantitative usefulness of CT scan is therefore limited to the study of the bony meatus.