Histologic changes in the anterior mallear ligament and the head of the malleus in otosclerosis.
OBJECTIVE
To determine ossicular and anterior mallear ligament (AML) changes in otosclerosis.


METHODS
Hyalinization of AML was graded as follows: none, patchy, or diffuse in 95 temporal bones (TBs) with otosclerosis: 52 with stapedial fixation (SF); 43 without fixation (NSF); and 52 age-matched controls. Fixation of the head of the malleus was noted.


RESULTS
Hyalinization with SF was 17 none, 23 patchy, and 12 diffuse; with NSF it was 16 none, 20 patchy, and 7 diffuse; and in controls, 23 none, 24 patchy, and 5 diffuse. There was no significant difference in hyalinization among groups and no correlation between degree of hyalinization and age. The malleus head was fixed in 4 TBs with SF.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on our findings, we do not believe that there is a relationship between hyalinization of the AML and otosclerosis; however, otosclerosis with SF seems to be a predisposing factor for fixation of the head of the malleus.
Oktay
Mehmet F
MF
Department of Otolaryngology, Otitis Media Research Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
Cureoglu
Sebahattin
S
Schachern
Patricia A
PA
Gulbahce
Evin
E
Paparella
Michael M
MM
Hayasi
Hideo
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008022:Ligaments / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008307:Malleus / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010040:Otosclerosis / Q000473:pathology*