title: The value of HRCT in stapes fixations corresponding to hearing thresholds and histologic findings.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the correlations between high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scans, preoperative audiometric findings and histopathologic results in stapes ankylosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective case review.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary referral center.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 57 patients with stapes ankylosis, who underwent unilateral stapedectomies were analyzed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Diagnostic and therapeutic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Preoperative HRCT examinations were performed in all cases. Findings of HRCT were categorized according to Marshall's grading system. Preoperative air-bone gaps (ABGs) and bone conduction (BC) thresholds were determined. Stapes footplates removed surgically were processed using hematoxylin and eosin staining.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Active otosclerosis (n = 29) was demonstrated by HRCT with a sensitivity of 76.31%, whereas its sensitivity to establish inactive otosclerosis (n = 13, 61.9%) and nonotosclerotic stapes fixations (n = 15, 51.7%) was much lower. Nonotosclerotic stapes fixations were characterized by pure conductive hearing loss that was not associated with HRCT findings. HRCT grades showed statistically significant association with BC levels at the averages of 0.5-1-2 kHz frequencies in the group of ears with inactive otosclerosis, exclusively (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HRCT is a reliable imaging method in the preoperative diagnosis of different types of stapes fixations. Imaging findings should be evaluated together with clinical history and audiometric data for obtaining as precise diagnosis for stapes fixation as possible.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, University of Debrecen, Medical and Health Science Center, Debrecen, Hungary. karositamas@gmail.com
authors.forename: Tamás
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Karosi
authors.forename: Péter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Csomor
authors.forename: István
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sziklai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000844:Ankylosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001309:Auditory Threshold / Q000502:physiology*; D001844:Bone Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006314:Hearing Loss, Conductive / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010040:Otosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013199:Stapes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D013201:Stapes Surgery; D016707:Tissue Fixation; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome