Abstract
Problem
In a previous clinical study, the incidence of chronic otitis media in cases of otosclerosis was reported to be less than that observed in patients without otosclerosis. Histopathologically, we can detect minimal changes such as histological otosclerosis or silent otitis media which are not detected clinically. The purpose of this study is to reveal the association of otosclerosis and chronic otitis media by evaluating human temporal bones, histopathologically.
Methods
1235 human temporal bones were reviewed for this study. In order to match patients with otosclerosis, patients with chronic otitis media were limited to 16 to 92 years of age. The incidence of otosclerosis (clinical otosclerosis, histological otosclerosis) and chronic otitis media, either clinical (tympanic membrane perforation) or silent (without perforation) were analyzed.
Results
There was no statistically difference between the incidence of chronic otitis media in temporal bones with and without otosclerosis.
Conclusion
The association of chronic otitis media and otosclerosis appears to be a coincidental.
Significance
The incidence of chronic otitis media in cases of otosclerosis is not less than that observed in cases of chronic otitis media in cases without otosclerosis.
Support
International Hearing Foundation, Hubbard Foundation, Starkey Foundation.
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