Magnetic resonance imaging of the eustachian tube cartilage.
CONCLUSIONS
No useful examination was available for morphological assessment of the eustachian tube cartilage (ETC) in living subjects, but evaluation of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging enables useful assessment of the eustachian tube (ET) and ETC during preoperative examination before ET surgery.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to investigate the usefulness of MR imaging for analysis and assessment of the ETC.


METHODS
Analysis of MR images.


RESULTS
The ETC could be demonstrated by oblique parasagittal MR imaging in most subjects, but was poorly defined in others, particularly in aged subjects. The ETC appeared as a hook-shaped structure with wide variability.
Oshima
Takeshi
T
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan. oshima@orl.med.tohoku.ac.jp
Kikuchi
Toshiaki
T
Hori
Yoko
Y
Kawase
Tetsuaki
T
Kobayashi
Toshimitsu
T
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002356:Cartilage / Q000473:pathology*; D004427:Ear Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000473:pathology; D005064:Eustachian Tube / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012984:Software