[Computerized tomography in children and adolescents with suspected petrous bone abnormality].

PURPOSE: To demonstrate HRCT findings and their therapeutic relevance in suspected congenital hearing disorders.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

It was checked in 96 young patients if HRCT findings of the temporal bone could explain functional findings. Furthermore, the therapeutic consequences were noted.

RESULTS

Normal CT and normal functional findings were obtained in 49 temporal bones (TB). In conductive hearing loss (41 TB), dysplasias of the conducting apparatus (37 TB) and inflammatory changes (3 TB) were found. Combined hearing loss (18 TB) was clarified completely or partially in half the cases. There were 22 dysplasias of the inner ear, 3 dysplasias of the middle ear, 1 abandoned examination (2 TB), and 55 normal CT findings in senorineural hearing disorders (82 TB). 1 retardate had a malformation of the inner ear and, contralaterally, inflammatory middle ear. In cases of vestibular disorders (24 TB), 14 malformations of the inner ear were detected. An indication for an operation was given in 23 TB. In 22 TB, it was contraindicated. The CT was one preliminary examination to a cochlea implant in 19 patients. The therapy was carried on with hearing devices in the other patients.

CONCLUSION

HRCT is an important method in diagnosis and therapeutic planning of suspected malformations of the temporal bone.