Conductive hearing loss with a "dry middle ear cleft"-A comprehensive pictorial review with CT

Thi Nguyen; Geoiphy Pulickal; Arvind Singh; Ravi Lingam

doi:10.1016/j.ejrad.2018.11.024

Conductive hearing loss with a "dry middle ear cleft"-A comprehensive pictorial review with CT

Eur J Radiol. 2019 Jan:110:74-80. doi: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2018.11.024. Epub 2018 Nov 22.

Authors

Thi Nguyen¹, Geoiphy Pulickal², Arvind Singh³, Ravi Lingam⁴

Affiliations

¹ Benson Radiology, 120 Greenhill Road, Unley, South Australia, 5061, Australia; Department of Medical Imaging, Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, 5042, South Australia, Australia. Electronic address: thi.nguyen@bensonradiology.com.au.
² Department of Diagnostic Radiology at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, 90 Yishun Central, 768828, Singapore. Electronic address: pulickal.george.geoiphy@ktph.com.sg.
³ Department of ENT Surgery, Northwick Park Hospital, Watford Road, Harrow, HA1 3UJ, United Kingdom. Electronic address: arvind.singh1@nhs.net.
⁴ Department of Radiology, Northwick Park Hospital, Watford Road, London, HA1 3UJ, United Kingdom. Electronic address: ravi.lingam@nhs.net.

PMID: 30599877
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2018.11.024

Abstract

Conductive hearing loss (CHL) commonly results from middle ear fluid and inflammation (otitis media). Less commonly in patients with CHL, the middle ear cleft is well aerated or 'dry' with absence of soft tissue or fluid clinically and on imaging. There are numerous causes for this but they can be clinically challenging to diagnose. This pictorial review aims to illustrate and discuss the CT features of both common and less common causes of CHL in patients with a "dry middle ear cavity".

Keywords: Conductive hearing loss; Middle ear; Otosclerosis.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Ear Ossicles / abnormalities
Ear Ossicles / diagnostic imaging
Ear Ossicles / injuries
Ear, Middle / diagnostic imaging*
Female
Hearing Loss, Conductive / diagnostic imaging
Hearing Loss, Conductive / etiology*
Humans
Incus / abnormalities
Incus / diagnostic imaging
Labyrinthitis / complications
Labyrinthitis / diagnostic imaging
Male
Middle Aged
Myringosclerosis / complications
Myringosclerosis / diagnostic imaging
Otosclerosis / complications
Otosclerosis / diagnostic imaging
Postoperative Complications / diagnostic imaging
Postoperative Complications / etiology
Stapes Surgery / adverse effects
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Tympanic Membrane / abnormalities