title: Radiological prevalence of superior and posterior semicircular canal dehiscence in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Establishing the prevalence of semicircular canal dehiscence in a pediatric population using temporal bone CT imaging.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis of all temporal bone CT scans during a 5-year period (2007-2012).
  
  
  METHODS
  CT scan images were reformatted in the plane of the canals and assessed by two independent reviewers with a third to resolve disagreement. Detailed chart review was performed for those found to have dehiscence. Superior and posterior canals were classified as "dehiscent", "possibly dehiscent", "thin" or "normal" for each case.
  
  
  RESULTS
  649 temporal bones were assessed from 334 children (under 18 years of age). The prevalence rate of superior canal dehiscence (SCD) was 1.7% (3.3% of individuals). Posterior canal dehiscence (PCD) was present in 1.2% (2.1% of individuals). There were no cases of bilateral SCD, and one case of bilateral PCD. Age under 3 years was associated with a higher prevalence of thinning but not dehiscence. Congenital inner ear malformation was not related to a higher probability of dehiscence. The superior petrosal sinus was associated with the SCD in three cases (27.3%). Retrospective chart review highlighted possible vestibular symptoms in 3/11 patients with SCD (27.3%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This forms the largest pediatric study of canal dehiscence to date. This study's prevalence rate is significantly lower than previous reports. The identified association with overlying venous structures may reflect the etiological process involved. The occurrence in children supports the hypothesis of a congenital predisposition for development of canal dehiscence syndrome.
authors: Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, BC Children's Hospital, 4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1, Canada. Electronic address: saxbyaj@gmail.com.
authors: Alexander J
authors: AJ
authors: Saxby
authors: Department of Radiology, BC Children's Hospital, 4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1, Canada. Electronic address: claire.gowdy@cw.bc.ca.
authors: Claire
authors: C
authors: Gowdy
authors: Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, BC Children's Hospital, 4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1, Canada. Electronic address: fandino.marcela@gmail.com.
authors: Marcela
authors: M
authors: Fandiño
authors: Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, BC Children's Hospital, 4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1, Canada. Electronic address: nchadha@cw.bc.ca.
authors: Neil K
authors: NK
authors: Chadha
authors: Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, BC Children's Hospital, 4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1, Canada. Electronic address: fkozak@cw.bc.ca.
authors: Frederick K
authors: FK
authors: Kozak
authors: Department of Radiology, BC Children's Hospital, 4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1, Canada. Electronic address: msargent@cw.bc.ca.
authors: Michael A
authors: MA
authors: Sargent
authors: Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, BC Children's Hospital, 4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1, Canada. Electronic address: jlea@cw.bc.ca.
authors: Jane
authors: J
authors: Lea
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012665:Semicircular Canals / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed
keywords: Computed tomography; Pediatric population; Posterior semicircular canal dehiscence; Semicircular canal dehiscence syndrome; Superior semicircular canal dehiscence