title: Labyrinthitis Ossificans: On the Mechanism of Perilabyrinthine Bone Remodeling.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It has been suggested that remodeling of the otic capsule is highly suppressed by the action of anti-resorptive signals emanating from structures of the inner ear space. Labyrinthitis ossificans (LO) is a severe complication to bacterial meningitis and is characterized by destruction of inner ear structures by the formation of new bone. The aim of this study was to explore the impact of LO on bone remodeling of the otic capsule.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 11 human temporal bones with extensive LO and 10 control specimens, the degree of bone remodeling was explored indirectly by estimating the viability of osteocytes in perilabyrinthine bone and the mastoid.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The viability of osteocytes was significantly lower in the perilabyrinthine bone compared to the mastoid in both groups. However, the loss of perilabyrinthine osteocytes was the same in the 2 groups, and the presence of cartilage remnants appeared to be the same.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study indicates that the factors affecting bone remodeling of the otic capsule and the degeneration of osteocytes are not altered by wholesale destruction of inner ear soft tissue and its replacement by bone. Therefore, alternative mechanisms may be implicated in the suppression of capsular bone remodeling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery and Audiology, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark sunebloch@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Sune Land
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Bloch
authors.affiliation: Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary, Harvard University Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Michael John
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: McKenna
authors.affiliation: Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary, Harvard University Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Joe
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery and Audiology, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Morten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Friis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000718:Anatomy, Regional; D016723:Bone Remodeling; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007762:Labyrinthitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008416:Mastoid / Q000473:pathology; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000150:complications; D009999:Ossification, Heterotopic / Q000473:pathology*; D010011:Osteocytes / Q000473:pathology; D010040:Otosclerosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000473:pathology
keywords: anti-resorptive barriers; cartilage remnants; lining cells; osteocytes; osteoprotegerin