Anatomic and radiological characterization of the petrotympanic fissure

Congress:

ECR 2019

Poster Number:

C-0284

Type:

Scientific Exhibit

Keywords:

Inflammation, Infection, Comparative studies, CT, Head and neck, Bones, Anatomy

Authors:

A. Solano¹, O. Villalba², S. Rojas Codina³, M. L. Ortega Sanchez ³, A. Rodriguez Baeza⁴; ¹BARCELONA, BARCELONA/ES, ²Girona/ES, ³Barcelona/ES, ⁴Barcelona /ES

DOI:

10.26044/ecr2019/C-0284

DOI-Link:

https://dx.doi.org/10.26044/ecr2019/C-0284

Fig. 1: Schematic view of the PTF in the sagittal plane

Fig. 2: Schematic view of the middle fossa

Fig. 3

Fig. 4: Sato's Type 1

Aims and objectives

1. To describe the radiological anatomy of the petrotympanic fissure in CT studies and its correlation in cadaveric specimen 2. To know the clinical relevance of petrotympanic fissure in the transmission of inflammatory processes between the temporomandibular joint and the middle ear.

Methods and materials

Temporal bone is formed by tympanic, squamous and petrous portions. Several fissures may be identified in the limits of the three portions. The most relevant of them is the tympanosquamous fissure located between mandibular fossa and posterior zygomatic tubercle. Its medial extreme is divided by the inferior projection of the tegmen tympani. The anterior division constitutes the petrosquamous fissure and the posterior is the petroympanic. (PTF) (fig 1) The PTF transmits the discomalleolar ligament (DML), the anterior ligament of malleus (ALM), the chorda tympani and...

Results

Anatomical sections PTF was identified in all specimens located within the posteromedial region of the mandibular fossa. In the sagittal plane, it consisted of a thin communication between the retrodiscal region of the TMJ and the epitympanum. The PTF had a descending trajectory and three segments that could be distinguished. The anterior segment, in contact with the TMJ, was the widest of the three. The posterior segment was the opening into the tympanic cavity, and was narrowest. Between these, the middle segment was where the...

Conclusion

PTF exhibits variable morphology in anatomical sections and MDCT images that enables its classification into three different types. These types are significantly different in several morphometric parameters that can be measured accurately with MDCT. The present findings support the use of this radiological method to investigate PTF morphometric variability in living humans.

Personal information

References

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