title: Does otosclerosis occur only in the temporal bone?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Otosclerosis does not occur outside the temporal bone.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The widely accepted assumption that otosclerosis is confined to the temporal bone has never been tested. It is important to investigate this issue, particularly because of evidence that otosclerosis may be a systemic (genetic) disease that could affect other bones.
  
  
  METHODS
  Biopsies from 9 to 11 skeletal sites were obtained from 2 patients with clinical otosclerosis. Two hundred forty-one nontemporal bone sections were examined by light microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No nontemporal skeletal bone section showed histologic evidence of otosclerosis. The data indicate, with 95% confidence, that the true prevalence of otosclerosis in the extratemporal skeleton of the 2 patients examined was < 3%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that otosclerosis is unlikely to occur outside the temporal bone. Factors unique to the otic capsule that may predispose it to otosclerosis are lack of bone remodeling and the presence of globuli interossei.
authors: Department of Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston 02114, USA.
authors: P C
authors: PC
authors: Wang
authors: S N
authors: SN
authors: Merchant
authors: M J
authors: MJ
authors: McKenna
authors: R J
authors: RJ
authors: Glynn
authors: J B
authors: JB
authors: Nadol
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010040:Otosclerosis / Q000473:pathology*; D010046:Oval Window, Ear / Q000473:pathology*; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000473:pathology*