Three-dimensional images of the reuniting duct using cone beam CT.
CONCLUSIONS
There is a bony groove under the course of the reuniting duct of the inner ear. Cone beam CT could show three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction images of this groove in a cadaver and living human subjects.


OBJECTIVE
To obtain simple and universal images of the reuniting duct in humans for clinical use.


METHODS
We investigated the reuniting duct macroscopically by observing the temporal bone in cadavers and living human subjects using cone beam CT. 3D reconstruction images of the duct were analyzed by the rendering software IVIEW.


RESULTS
The reuniting duct showed a bony groove between the saccule and cecum of the hook portion of the cochlea that could be three-dimensionally visualized by cone beam CT. A bony groove image in a living human subject could also be visualized by cone beam CT.
Yamane
Hideo
H
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan. ent-yamane@med.osaka-cu.ac.jp
Takayama
Masahiro
M
Sunami
Kishiko
K
Sakamoto
Hiramori
H
Mochizuki
Kunizo
K
Inoue
Yuichi
Y
D002102:Cadaver; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D012016:Reference Values; D054776:Semicircular Ducts / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*