title: Radiological assessment of the sinus tympani: temporal bone HRCT analyses and surgically related findings.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the morphology of the sinus tympani (ST) based on computed tomography (CT) scans (axial view), describing the findings in a cohort of 148 patients (296 ears), and classifying the prevalence according to our ST classification. To evaluate the surgical prevalence based on the type of ST. To calculate the sensibility and positive predictive value (PPV) of high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scans for ST involvement by cholesteatoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review of the radiologic database and surgical reports.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 98/296 (33.1%) middle ears presented a radiologic morphology Type A; 185/296 (62.5%) middle ears presented a radiologic morphology Type B; 13/296 (4.4%) middle ears presented a radiologic morphology Type C; HRCT showed a sensibility of 91%, specificity of 65%, PPV of 68% and negative predictive value (NPV) of 90%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ST shape and depth can influence surgical preference in cholesteatoma surgery. In the case of a shallower ST, an exclusive endoscopic exploration is chosen; whereas in the case of a deeper ST, a retrofacial approach is usually preferred. HRCT scans demonstrated high sensibility and NPV for ST involvement by cholesteatoma.
authors.affiliation: Otolaryngology Department, University Hospital of Modena, Via del Pozzo 71, 41100, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Marchioni
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Valerini
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mattioli
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alicandri-Ciufelli
authors.forename: Livio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Presutti
mesh_terms: D018424:Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed