Otolaryngologic Analysis of High Jugular Bulb Using Temporal Bone Computed Tomography

Park, Cheol Kyu; Park, Young Jin; Yoon, Se Dong; Kim, Sung Hyun; Lee, Byung Don; Chang, Hyuck Soon; Kang, Ju Won

Abstract

BACKGROUND: If the level of dome of jugular bulb is superior to the round window niche or inferior annulus of the tympanic membrane, it is called a high jugular bulb.
OBJECTIVES
Laterally directed high fossae can result in case histories of bleeding from a dehiscent jugular bulb damaged at myringotomy and hearing loss caused by protrusion of a huge bulb into the middle ear space, this effects the function of the ossicles or the round window. Medially situated high fossae may affect the inner ear.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The authors analysed incidence of high jugular bulb and its relation to the diseases using CT scan films of 352 patients who visited Soonchunhyang University Hospital with chronic otitis media, cholesteatoma, Bell's palsy, vestibular neuronitis or Meniere's disease.
RESULTS
The following results were obtained: 1) High jugular bulb was seen in 84 cases(23.9%) out of total 352 cases. 2) Of 247 cases of otitis media, 56 cases(22.7%) had high jugular bulbs. 3) Nine cases(23.0%) of high jugular bulb were found in 39 cases with cholesteatoma. 4) Six cases(24.0%) out of 25 cases with vestibular neuronitis were found to have high jugular bulbs. 5) In the cases with Meniere's disease, the highest incidence of high jugular bulb(8 cases out of 19 cases) was noted.
CONCLUSION
This result may suggest that high jugular bulb is significantly related to Meniere's disease.