title: The relationship of age and radiographic incidence of superior semicircular canal dehiscence in pediatric patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if age affects radiographic incidence of superior semicircular canal dehiscence (SSCD) in pediatric patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective case review.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary children's hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients (0-18 yr) with high-resolution computed tomography (CT) temporal bone scans from April 2001 to February 2013.
  
  
  METHODS
  Diagnostic high-resolution CT temporal bone scans.
  
  
  METHODS
  Findings of dehiscent, thin, or normal SSC on CT scans (including reconstructed Poschl views). Interobserver radiographic interpretation rate between neuroradiologist and otologist.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven-hundred CT scans (1,400 ears) were reviewed, and 1,188 ears were acceptable for analysis. Twenty-three ears (1.9%) had dehiscent SSC, 185 ears (15.6%) had thin SSC, and 980 ears (82.5%) had normal SSC. Median ages of dehiscent, thin, and normal canals were 5, 7, and 9 years, respectively ( p < 0.05). As age increased, the incidence of dehiscent and thin SCC cases decreased; for example, dehiscent or thin canal existed in 51.4% of children less than 12 months, 17.5% of children between 1 and 2 years, 18.5% of children between 3 and 10 years, and 10.9% of children between 11 and 18 years. The κ value of agreement between neuroradiologist and otologist was 0.814, demonstrating a high value of agreement (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Radiographic SSCD, although uncommon, appears to be more prevalent in younger children, especially infants younger than 12 months. This suggests that the SSC may develop more bony covering with age.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Louisiana State University Health Science Center New Orleans; †Department of Radiology, The Children's Hospital of Louisiana, New Orleans, Louisiana; and ‡Merial Limited, North Brunswick, New Jersey, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Neal M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: Laveil M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: Brooke
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Morell
authors.forename: Clelie C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Carpenter
authors.forename: Victoria B
authors.initials: VB
authors.lastname: Givens
authors.forename: Anagha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kakade
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jeyakumar
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Arcement
authors.forename: Moises A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Arriaga
authors.forename: Yu-Lan Mary
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Ying
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007759:Labyrinth Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012665:Semicircular Canals / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed