The biochemical analysis of tympanosclerotic plaques.
OBJECTIVE
We conducted a biochemical analysis of tympanosclerotic (TS) plaques.


METHODS
Forty-five samples containing TS plaques were obtained from 45 patients. Qualitative and quantitative biochemical analyses were performed. TS plaques were evaluated macroscopically in respect to color and structure.


RESULTS
Phosphate, calcium, ammonium, and cholesterol were detected in 44, 43, 35, and 7 samples, respectively. Mean calcium and phosphate levels and protein levels of samples were 2.5 +/- 2.6 mg/100 mg tissue, 0.16 +/- 0.11 mg, and 3.4 +/- 3.4 mg, respectively. TS plaques were dirty white in 20 samples, brunette in 13, yellowish in 4, white in 7, and brown in 1. The structure of TS plaques was hard in consistency in 23 samples, fibrous in 14 samples, and soft in 8 samples.


CONCLUSIONS
The wider range of values and different mineral contents in our series might be explained by the fact that we had a much larger variety of tissues in various stages of the TS process. The color and the consistency of TS plaques are due to the discrepancy in their content and the amount of mineral, cholesterol, and protein.
Department of Otolaryngology, Medical Faculty, Süleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey. fehmidoner@hotmail.com
Fehmi
F
Doner
Murat
M
Yariktas
Harun
H
Dogru
Hafize
H
Uzun
Seval
S
Aydin
Namik
N
Delibas
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000032:analysis; D004427:Ear Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D010710:Phosphates / Q000032:analysis; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000032:analysis
D010710:Phosphates; D011506:Proteins; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; D002784:Cholesterol; D002118:Calcium