Cone beam computed tomography after round window vibroplasty: do the radiological findings match the auditory outcome?
CONCLUSIONS
The cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging technique has proved to be reliable for assessing the appropriate positioning of the floating mass transducer (FMT) in the round window (RW) niche, although some parameters do not seem to be essential for achieving a satisfactory functional outcome.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the role that specific imaging parameters derived from CBCT of the temporal bone have for predicting the functional outcome after RW vibroplasty (RW-VP).


METHODS
CBCT imaging was carried out in a homogeneous group of patients who presented with a mixed type of hearing loss after open tympanoplasty. Three arbitrary radiological parameters were taken into account: the FMT/RW membrane contact, bony contacts of the FMT margins, and the inferior FMT tissue support. The audiological assessment took into consideration the PTA4 (500-4000 Hz), the PTA2 (125-250 Hz), and the word recognition score (WRS) in quiet and in noise.


RESULTS
One subject presented with all positive CBCT parameters and showed a good, but not the best auditory performance among the study group. In the majority of the subjects, with a satisfactory postoperative hearing improvement, at least two of the three radiological parameters were present. In comparison with the unaided condition, an improvement in both the PTA4 and PTA2 was found in all the subjects.
ENT Unit, NESMOS Department, Medicine and Psychology and Medicine, Sapienza University , Rome , Italy.
Maurizio
M
Barbara
Luigi
L
Volpini
Mario
M
Ciotti
Chiara
C
Filippi
Edoardo
E
Covelli
Simonetta
S
Monini
Ferdinando
F
D'Ambrosio
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001299:Audiometry; D018424:Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear / Q000601:surgery; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; D005260:Female; D046089:Hearing Loss, Mixed Conductive-Sensorineural / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009998:Ossicular Prosthesis; D019933:Ossicular Replacement; D012405:Round Window, Ear / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014433:Tympanoplasty / Q000009:adverse effects
mixed hearing loss; pure-tone average; word recognition score