title: Ultrasonographic evaluation of the external ear canal and tympanic membrane in dogs.
abstract: Ultrasonographic imaging of the canine external ear canal, tympanic membrane, and tympanic bulla was described in five healthy beagle dogs before and after infusion of saline into the ear canal. Saline served as an acoustic window. With this method, the external ear canal, and tympanic bulla were visible in the same imaging plane and the integrity of the tympanic membrane could be evaluated indirectly by confirming an intact tympanic membrane, which appeared at the end of the ear canal as a hyperechoic line with reverberation. Experimentally, perforated tympanic membrane could be evaluated by identifying anechoic saline in the tympanic bulla lumen. The air and fluid-filled tympanic bulla were also visualized. Ultrasonography with saline as an acoustic window appears to be helpful for the evaluation of the external ear canal, tympanic membrane, and tympanic bulla and it may have the potential to be a useful clinical tool in evaluation of integrity of the tympanic membrane.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, 1370, Sangyeok-dong, Buk-ku, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Jeongmin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kidong
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Eom
authors.forename: Yunsang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Seong
authors.forename: Haeoon
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jinhee
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jongwon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kwangho
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Keunwoo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Taeho
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Sanggwan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Junghee
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Heechun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hojung
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Younwon
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Dongwoo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D004424:Ear Canal / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014432:Tympanic Membrane / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography