Conductive deafness with normal eardrum: absence of the long process of the incus.
CONCLUSIONS
The most likely cause of lesions with an absence of the long process of the incus was congenital origin because many cases were associated with the stapedial anomaly. However, the possibility of a potential inflammation of this lesion could not be completely excluded, especially in cases with only an absence of the long process of the incus.


OBJECTIVE
To clarify whether the absence of the long process of the incus is caused by congenital anomaly or a potential inflammation.


METHODS
A total of 21 patients (5 bilateral cases, 16 unilateral cases) with absence of the long process of the incus were reviewed. Operative and histopathological findings of the removed incus were analyzed.


RESULTS
The 21 cases with absence of the long process of the incus were classified into 6 types. Thirteen cases showed the absence of the long process associated with the stapedial anomaly, which were all unilateral. Eight cases showed no association with the stapedial anomaly, among which five cases were bilateral. Three of eight cases not associated with the stapedial anomaly showed evidence of resorption in the incus body such as fibrosis and Haversian canal widening.
Park
Keehyun
K
Department of Otolaryngology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea. parkkh@ajou.ac.kr
Choung
Yun-Hoon
YH
Shin
You Ree
YR
Hong
Sung Pyo
SP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001862:Bone Resorption / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D018450:Disease Progression; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000473:pathology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006314:Hearing Loss, Conductive / Q000151:congenital / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007188:Incus / Q000002:abnormalities*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000473:pathology; D013506:Otologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013199:Stapes / Q000002:abnormalities; D014432:Tympanic Membrane / Q000033:anatomy & histology*