Prognostic roles of preoperative CT findings and air-bone gaps in type 1 tympanoplasty.

BACKGROUND

Although CT has been used widely, the role of preoperative CT findings including other factors in tympanoplasty has not been elucidated comprehensively.

AIMS/

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate relationship of CT findings with other factors and audiological results in type 1 tympanoplasty.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

A cohort of consecutive 175 patients with type 1 tympanoplasty was enrolled. Addition of mastoidectomy was based on the presence of soft tissue in antrum on CT. Postoperative air-bone gap (ABG) and reperforation rate were analyzed.

RESULTS

Positive soft tissue in antrum on CT was found in 52 (29.7%) patients and showed larger preoperative ABG than the negative group. Successful ABG closure (≤20 dB) was obtained in 97% when preoperative ABG ≤20 dB, but it decreased as the preoperative ABG increased (83% with preoperative ABG of 21-30 dB, and 0% with preoperative ABG >30 dB). Postoperative reperforation rate was positively related to the preoperative ABG, but not the presence of soft tissue in the antrum, the size, or locations of preoperative perforations.

CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE: Our findings showed that temporal bone CT was helpful in determining addition of mastoidectomy and the presence of soft tissue in the antrum was associated with large ABG.