The cochlear cleft.
OBJECTIVE
Recent advances in the display of medical images permit the routine study of temporal bone CT images at high magnification. We noted an unfamiliar structure, which we now call the "cochlear cleft," in the otic capsule. To our knowledge, this report represents the first description of this structure in the medical imaging literature.


METHODS
Temporal bone CT performed in 100 pediatric patients without sensorineural hearing loss were examined for the presence of cochlear clefts. Incidence of cochlear clefts as well as the relationship between age and incidence was examined.


RESULTS
Cochlear clefts were present in 41% of the subjects. Incidence decreased with age.


CONCLUSIONS
We describe a cleft in the otic capsule that is frequently seen on magnified images of temporal bone CT studies in children. The cleft may be the fissula ante fenestram.
Chadwell
Jon B
JB
Department of Otolaryngology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
Halsted
Mark J
MJ
Choo
Daniel I
DI
Greinwald
John H
JH
Benton
Corning
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003051:Cochlea / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed