[Inspecting the cochlear scala tympanic with flexible and semi-flexible micro-endoscope].
OBJECTIVE
Flexible and semi-flexible micro-endoscopes were used in cochlear scala tympani inspection , to explore their application in inner ear examination.


METHODS
Fifteen profound hearing loss patients preparing for cochlear implant were included in this study. During the operation, micro-endoscopy was performed after opening the cochlear scala tympani. And 1 mm diameter semi-flexible micro-endoscope could go as deep as 9 mm into the cochlear scala tympani, while 0. 5 mm diameter flexible micro-endoscope could go as deep as 25 mm. The inspecting results were compared with video recording.


RESULTS
Using 0.5 mm flexible micro-endoscope, we canould check cochlear scala tympani with depth range of 15-25 mm, but the video imaging was not clear enough to examine the microstructure in the cochlear. With 1 mm diameter semi-flexible micro-endoscope, we could reach 9 mm deep into the cochlear. During the examination, we found 3 cases with calcification deposit in osseous spiral lamina, l case with granulation tissue in the lateral wall of scala tympani, no abnormal findings in the other 11 cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Inspecting the cochlear scala tympani with 0.5 mm flexible micro-endoscope, even though we can reach the second circuit of the cochlear, it is difficult to find the pathology in the cochlear because of the poor video imaging. With 1 mm semi-flexible micro-endoscope, we can identify the microstructure of the cochlear clearly and find the pathologic changes, but the inserting depth was limited to 9 mm with limitation to examine the whole cochlear.
Zhang
Daoxcing
D
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Affiliated Beijing Friendship Hospital of Capital Medical Sciences University, Beijing, 100050, China. zdx161154@yahoo.com.cn
Zhang
Yankun
Y
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003051:Cochlea / Q000473:pathology*; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D019723:Endoscopes; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012533:Scala Tympani / Q000473:pathology*