Measurement of inner ear structures on plain skull in infants

Yoo, H S; Kim, Y S; Choi, B S; Park, C Y

Abstract

The temporal bone in infants, especially the inner ear is the interesting structures, since it has somecomponents that are growing rapidly and others have reached almost adult size. As there is almost no aeration ofthe mastoid, nor has the mastoid process as yet developed at birth this combination with the adult sizedevelopment of inner ear structures and ossicles marked these portions of the petrous bone easily seen on routineskull views. It is out attempt to observe the inner ear structures of infants and measure the each inner earstructures, such as semicircular canals, cochlea and vestibule as base line and detect any early anomaly offoregoing studies. Results as follow ; 1. It is possible to measure the each inner ear structures in plain AP skull views. 2. There was no differences in size of vestibular length and width as comparing neonate and 1 year ofage, however, there is slight enlargement of semicircular canals and cochlea as 1.4mm and 0.4mm, respectively. 3.It seems to be helpful to detect any early anomalous lesion of inner ear structure as basis of each measurement ofthese structures.