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- Cros, Olivier, et al.
(författare)
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Determination of the mastoid surface area and volume based on micro-CT scanning of human temporal bone : Geometrical parameters dependence on scanning resolutions
- 2016
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Ingår i: Hearing Research. - : Elsevier BV. - 0378-5955 .- 1878-5891. ; 340, s. 127-134
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The mastoid air cell system (MACS) with its large complex of interconnected air cells reflects an enhanced surface area (SA) relative to its volume (V), which may indicate that the MACS is adapted to gas exchange and has a potential role in middle ear pressure regulation. Thus, these geometric parameters of the MACS have been studied by high resolution clinical CT scanning. However, the resolution of these scans is limited to a voxel size of around 0.6 mm in all dimensions, and so, the geometrical parameters are also limited. Small air cells may appear below the resolution and cannot be detected. Such air cells may contribute to a much higher SA than the V, and thus, also the SA/V ratio. More accurate parameters are important for analysis of the function of the MACS including physiological modeling.Our aim was to determine the SA, V, and SA/V ratio in MACS in human temporal bones at highest resolution by using micro-CT-scanning. Further, the influence of the resolution on these parameters was investigated by downsampling the data. Eight normally aerated temporal bones were scanned at the highest possible resolution (30-60 μm). The SA was determined using a triangular mesh fitted onto the segmented MACS. The V was determined by summing all the voxels containing air. Downsampling of the original data was applied four times by a factor of 2.The mean SA was 194 cm2, the mean V was 9 cm3, and the mean SA/V amounted to 22 cm-1. Decreasing the resolution resulted in a non-linear decrement of SA and SA/V, whereas V was mainly independent of the resolution.The current study found significantly higher SA and SA/V compared with previous studies using clinical CT scanning at lower resolutions. These findings indicate a separate role of the MACS compared with the tympanum, and the results are important for a more accurate modeling of the middle ear physiology.
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- Cros, Olivier, et al.
(författare)
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Mastoid structural properties determined by imaging analysis of high resolution CT-scanning
- 2010
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Ingår i: Hearing Research. - : Elsevier. - 0378-5955 .- 1878-5891. ; 263:1-2, s. 242-243
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Hypothesis: The structure of the mastoid air cells can be described by quantitative imaging analysis of high-resolution CT-scans, which may contribute to understand its function in normal and pathological ears. Background: Negative middle ear pressure is a common factor in middle ear diseases resulting from an imbalance between mastoid gas exchange and Eustachian tube function. While the Eustachian tube function has been the main focus of research, more recent studies indicate that the mastoid may play an active role in pressure regulation. The mastoid structure with numerous air cells reflects a large area to volume ratio (AV-ratio) adapted to efficient gas exchange. Imaging analysis applied to high resolution CT-scanning can describe quantitative measures, which may reveal important information about mastoid function and its role in healthy and diseased ears. Materials and methods: Quantitative analysis was performed on a series of unselected high resolution CT-scans (voxel size: 0.29 _ 0.29 _ 0.625 mm) from 36 ears in 24 patients. Area and volume were determined using Cavalieri’s method, i.e. by summing cross-sectional areas. The AV-ratio was computed for each scan. Results: Mean area was 69 cm2 (range: 23–134cm2), mean volume was 4 cm3 (range: 1.3–10.8 cm3), and mean AV-ratio was 16 cm-1 (range: 11.2–21.0 cm-1). The area correlated linearly to the volume by A = 17.2*V-0.2. Conclusion: The area and volume values corresponded with previous studies, and the additional AV-ratio reflected the functional properties of the mastoid in terms of capability for gas exchange. Due to a series of similarities between structure and function of the lungs and mastoid, it seems likely to propose a tree-structure of dividing mastoid cells. In respiratory research, analysis describing the dimensions of series of bronchi generations has been applied, and based on current results; our aim of future research is to establish similar details of mastoid tree-structure. Funding source: Various private Danish funds.
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- Cros, Olivier, et al.
(författare)
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Micro-channels in the mastoid anatomy. Indications of a separate blood supply of the air cell system mucosa by micro-CT scanning
- 2013
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Ingår i: Hearing Research. - : Elsevier. - 0378-5955 .- 1878-5891. ; 301, s. 60-65
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The mastoid air cell system has traditionally been considered to have a passive role in gas exchange and pressure regulation of the middle ear possibly with some acoustic function. However, more evidence has focused on the mucosa of the mastoid, which may play a more active role in regulation of middle ear pressure.In this study we have applied micro-CT scanning on a series of three human temporal bones. This approach greatly enhances the resolution (40–60 μm), so that we have discovered anatomical details, which has not been reported earlier. Thus, qualitative analysis using volume rendering has demonstrated notable micro-channels connecting the surface of the compact bone directly to the mastoid air cells as well as forming a network of connections between the air cells. Quantitative analysis on 2D slices was employed to determine the average diameter of these micro-channels (158 μm; range = 40–440 μm) as well as their density at a localized area (average = 75 cm−2; range = 64–97 cm−2).These channels are hypothesized to contain a separate vascular supply for the mastoid mucosa. However, future studies of the histological structure of the micro-channels are warranted to confirm the hypothesis. Studies on the mastoid mucosa and its blood supply may improve our knowledge of its physiological properties, which may have important implications for our understanding of the pressure regulation of the middle ear.
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