title: Multislice computed tomography overestimates superior semicircular canal dehiscence syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We assessed the prevalence of superior semicircular canal dehiscence (SSCD) through examination of ultrahigh-resolution computed tomography (CT) scans of the temporal bone and attempted to verify the correspondence between a radiologic diagnosis of SSCD and clinical signs of SSCD syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study was carried out on 191 consecutive patients who underwent temporal bone ultrahigh-resolution CT scans. Cases that matched the radiologic diagnosis of SSCD were subsequently referred for a comprehensive audiological evaluation that might enable a final diagnosis of SSCD syndrome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 191 patients, 17 had a radiologic diagnosis of SSCD, which was bilateral in 5 cases, for a total of 22 SSCD cases, with a prevalence rate of 5.8%. In 2 of the 17 patients, the audiological examination revealed signs and symptoms indicative of SSCD syndrome, with a total prevalence rate of 0.5%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data confirm that the radiologic diagnosis of SSCD, performed by mean thin-section CT scans reformatted in the plane of the superior semicircular canal, is not necessarily related to the clinical presentation of SSCD syndrome. Our study also showed a prevalence rate of SSCD syndrome that was similar to the prevalence of SSCD reported from studies of histologic specimens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Re
authors.forename: Federico Maria
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Gioacchini
authors.forename: Ugo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Salvolini
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Totaro
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santarelli
authors.forename: Vito
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mallardi
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Magliulo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004427:Ear Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005072:Evoked Potentials, Auditory; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012665:Semicircular Canals / Q000473:pathology*; D013577:Syndrome