Middle ear imaging via the eustachian tube with a superfine fiberoptic videomicroendoscope

The aim of this study was to systemically evaluate the visualization of the middle ear structures with a superfine fiberoptic videomicroendoscope introduced via the eustachian tube. With the permission of the Finnish Ministry of Health ten temporal bone blocks were dissected from lately succumbed patients. An Olympus AF-8 (0.8 mm outer diameter) angiofiberscope was used. The AF-8 fiberoptic videomicroendoscope is a straightforward-looking endoscope with a 55 degrees field of view. The endoscope tip was introduced through the eustachian tube into the middle ear and the middle ear structures were visualized and counted. Forty-three anatomical structures were listed and the results presented in a categorized table. Nineteen anatomical objects among 43 were never observed in any temporal bone block. The rest of the anatomical structures were visualized to varying degrees.