The fate of mastoid obliteration tissue: a histopathological study.
OBJECTIVE
To demonstrate the histopathological fate of tissues used for mastoid obliteration over a period of 30 years.


METHODS
Retrospective histopathological analysis of archival temporal bone microscopic sections.


METHODS
From the database of the laboratory, the 17 temporal bones from subjects who had undergone mastoid obliteration procedures were identified. The microscopic appearance of the obliteration tissue was described, and microphotographs made of significant findings.


RESULTS
Fat and bone chips, or paté, retained their bulk in the obliterated space, whereas subcutaneous tissue and muscle lost bulk but seemed to promote healing. Some substances, such as bone wax, used for hemostasis and buried under obliteration tissue, were found to produce a subclinical inflammatory reaction, but other materials, such as Surgicel and Gelfoam, did not.


CONCLUSIONS
Fat and bone chips, or paté, used as mastoid obliteration tissue, retained their bulk and identity, whereas subcutaneous tissue and muscle did not.
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000637:transplantation; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006490:Hemostatics; D006801:Humans; D008416:Mastoid / Q000601:surgery*; D009132:Muscles / Q000637:transplantation; D010168:Palmitates; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000473:pathology*; D014885:Waxes
D004338:Drug Combinations; D006490:Hemostatics; D010168:Palmitates; D014885:Waxes; C055480:bone wax