title: Evaluation of temporal bone pneumatization with growth using 3D reconstructed image of computed tomography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate temporal bone pneumatization with growth using 3D reconstructed computed tomography (CT) images.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-four temporal bones of 42 patients under the age of 16 years who had undergone head and facial bone CT were included in this retrospective study. The bony growth of the temporal bone and the head size were evaluated with horizontal- and vertical-plane CT images. Pneumatization of the temporal bone was investigated with 3D reconstruction software using axial CT images, dividing them as follows: medially, anterosuperiorly, posterolaterally, and inferiorly. Pneumatization of each individual part was compared with that of other parts and was also evaluated according to the aging process.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean pneumatization was measured as 1696.7mm3in patients aged under 2 years, 3609.1mm3in those aged 2-4 years, 5351.1mm3in those aged 5-7 years, 7295.9mm3in those aged 8-10 years, 7797.5mm3in those aged 11-13 years, and 8526.6mm3in those aged 14-16 years. The degree of temporal bone pneumatization of each part was correlated with that of other parts (p<0.05). The volume of pneumatization increased with growth of the temporal bone and with aging. The degree of pneumatization of specific parts might be related to developmental periods.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The pneumatization of one part might affect the pneumatization of other nearby parts, or all parts might be affected by the same driving force of pneumatization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sun Wha
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: otojun@catholic.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Beom Cho
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Jun
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hojong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yesun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000254:growth & development*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
keywords: Computed tomography; Pneumatization; Temporal bone