Semicircular canal dehiscence in the pediatric population.
OBJECTIVE
(1) Identify the existence of semicircular canal bony dehiscence in the pediatric population; (2) determine the frequency of this finding in children over 3 years of age who have had temporal bone computed tomography (CT) imaging; (3) correlate the clinical history and audiological data to CT findings in this population.


METHODS
Retrospective review of temporal bone CT scans performed at a tertiary care children's hospital and retrospective chart review.


METHODS
Children over 3 years of age who underwent a temporal bone CT scan between January 2006 and December 2006.


RESULTS
Review of 131 temporal bone CT scans using multiplanar imaging techniques revealed evidence of semicircular canal bony dehiscence in 18 children older than 3 years of age. Dehiscence of the superior semicircular canal was identified in 14 patients while dehiscence of the posterior semicircular canal was identified in 5 patients. One patient had both the superior and posterior semicircular canal dehiscences. Retrospective chart review comparing children with and without semicircular canal dehiscence showed no significant difference in clinical history or audiological data.


CONCLUSIONS
Semicircular canal dehiscence exists in the pediatric population. In this series, 18 of 131 temporal bone CT scans were positive for bony dehiscence of the superior or posterior semicircular canals. Further study is required to determine the clinical significance of this radiographic finding.
Chen
Eunice Y
EY
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA.
Paladin
Angelisa
A
Phillips
Grace
G
Raske
Molly
M
Vega
Liah
L
Peterson
Do
D
Sie
Kathleen C Y
KC
D000293:Adolescent; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone / Q000379:methods; D001848:Bone Diseases, Developmental / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012665:Semicircular Canals / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed