Morphology studies of the human fetal cochlea in turner syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
Turner syndrome (TS) is the most frequent sex chromosome abnormality, and sensorineural hearing loss is common. We aimed to determine whether there are consistent morphologic cochlear abnormalities during gestational development that could be associated with TS.


METHODS
The histology of nine fetal temporal bones of TS autopsied after spontaneous abortion was studied.


RESULTS
Gross morphologic examination of the TS cochleae failed to reveal a pattern of structural abnormalities that would explain the development of sensorineural hearing loss. Mondini-like cochlear dysplasia was observed in one 13-wk-old TS fetus.


CONCLUSIONS
We could not demonstrate a consistent pattern of cochlear malformations.
Fish
John H
JH
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Research Laboratories for Inner Ear Biology, University Hospital, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
Schwentner
Ilona
I
Schmutzhard
Joachim
J
Abraham
Irene
I
Ciorba
Andrea
A
Martini
Alessandro
A
Sergi
Consolato
C
Schrott-Fischer
Anneliese
A
Glueckert
Rudolf
R
D003051:Cochlea / Q000196:embryology*; D005333:Fetus / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000473:pathology*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000196:embryology; D014424:Turner Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000196:embryology* / Q000473:pathology*