Summary
The aim of this study was to define precisely the imaging of the canals of the temporal bone by means of high-resolution computed tomography (HR CT). Based on 24 temporal bones removed from embalmed cadavers and investigated with HR CT, several canals were studied: the canal of the chorda tympani (CdT), the canal of the auricular branch of the vagus nerve (ABV), the canal of the tympanic nerve, the canal of the carotico-tympanic nerve and that of the lesser petrosal nerve. Anatomic correlations for six temporal bones were made to confirm the validity of our radiologic hypotheses. In CT, in axial sections OM 0°, the posterior canal of the CdT was visualized in 71% of cases, the ABV canal in 4%, the inferior tympanic canal in 12.5%, the carotico-tympanic canal in no cases and the canal of the lesser petrosal nerve in 50% (and in 75% with an incidence of OM+10°). In coronal incidence, the posterior canal of the CdT was seen in 20% of cases, the ABV canal in 25%, the inferior tympanic canal in 85%, the caroticotympanic canal in 65% and that of the lesser petrosal nerve in 15%. The six anatomic comparisons confirmed the radiologic hypotheses in every case. These different structures are easy to identify in HR CT and are important to define so that any lesion (tumoral or vascular) developing in their vicinity may not be overlooked.
Résumé
Le but de ce travail était de définir avec précision en tomodensitométrie haute résolution (TDM HR) l'imagerie des canaux de l'os temporal. A partir de 24 os temporaux prélevés sur cadavres embaumés, explorés en TDM HR, plusieurs canaux ont été étudiés: canal de la corde du tympan (CdT), canal du rameau auriculaire du vague (RAV), canal du nerf tympanique, canal du nerf caroticotympanique et canal du nerf petit pétreux. Des corrélations anatomiques pour six os temporaux ont été réalisées pour confirmer l'ensemble de nos hypothèses radiologiques. En TDM, sur les coupes axiales OM 0° la visibilité du canal postérieur de la CdT était observée dans 71% des cas, celle du canal RAV dans 4% des cas, du canal tympanique inférieur dans 12,5% des cas, du canal carotico-tympanique dans aucun cas, du canal du nerf petit pétreux dans 50% des cas et dans 75% des cas lorsque que l'on réalisait l'incidence OM+10°. En incidence coronale, le canal postérieur de la CdT a été observé dans 20% des cas, le canal du RAV dans 25% des cas, le canal tympanique inférieur dans 85% des cas, le canal carotico-tympanique dans 65% cas et le canal du nerf petit pétreux dans 15% des cas. Les six confrontations anatomiques ont permis de confirmer dans tous les cas les hypothèses radiologiques. Ces différentes structures faciles à individualiser en TDM HR sont importantes à définir pour ne pas méconnaître une pathologie (vasculaire et tumorale) qui se développerait à leur contact.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Brogan M, Chakeres DW (1989) Computer Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the normal anatomy of the temporal bone. Seminars in Ultrasound, CT, and MR 10: 178–194
Chakeres DW, Spiegel PK (1983) A systematic technique for comprehensive evaluation of the temporal bone by computer tomography. Radiology 146: 97–106
Cooper MH, Archer CR, Kveton JF (1987) Correlation of high-resolution computed tomography and gross anatomic sections of the temporal bone: Part I. The facial nerve. Am J Oto 8: 375–84
Durcan DJ, Shea JJ, Sleeckx JP (1967) Bifurcation of the facial nerve. Arch Otolaryngol 86: 37–49
Gerhardt HJ, Otto HD (1981) The intratemporal course of the facial nerve and its influence on the development of the ossicular chain. Acta Otolaryngol 91: 567–73
Guerrier Y (1988) Anatomie à l'usage des oto-rhino-laryngologistes et des chirurgiens cervico-faciaux. La Simarre, Joué-lès-Tours, Tome 1, 210 p
Hoshino T, Parellam A (1971) Middle ear muscle anomalies. Arch Otolaryngol 94: 235–239
Lasjaunias P, Berenstein A (1987) Surgical neuro-angiography. 1-Functional anatomy of craniofacial arteries. Springer Berlin, 256 p
Lasjaunias P, Moret J (1978) Normal and non-pathological variations in angiographic aspects of the arteries of the middle ear. Neuroradiology 15: 213–219
Muren C, Wadin K, Wilbrand HF (1990) Anatomic variations of the chorda tympanic canal. Acta Otolaryngol 110: 262–65
Nager GT, Proctor B (1991) Anatomic variations and anomalies involving the facial canal. Otolaryngologic Clinics of North America 24: 531–53
Proctor B, Nager GT (1982) The facial canal: Normal anatomy, variations and anomalies. Ann Otol Laryngol Suppl 97: 33–44, 45–61
Schuknecht HF, Gulya AJ (1986) Anatomy of the temporal bone with surgical implications. Lea and Fibiger Philadelphia, 350 p
Sick H, Veillon F (1988) Atlas de coupes sériées de l'os temporal et de sa région. Bergmann, München, 161 p
Son PM, Reede DL, Bergeron RT (1983) Computer tomography of glomus tympanicum tumors. J Comput Assist Tomogr 7: 14–17
Swartz JD, Barzanic ML, Naidich TP (1985) Aberrant internal carotid artery lying within the middle ear: High resolution CT, diagnosis and differential diagnosis. Neuroradiology 27: 322–326
Swartz JD, Goodman RS, Russel KB, Marlowe KI, Wolfson RJ (1983) High resolution computed tomography of the middle ear and mastoid. Radiology 148: 449–464
Valavanis A, Kubik S, Oguz M (1983) Exploration of the facial canal by High-Resolution Computed Tomography: Anatomy and pathology. Neuroradiology 24: 139–147
Veillon F (1991) Imagerie de l'oreille. Flammarion, Médecine Paris, 1283 p
Virapongse C, Sarwar M, Bhimani S, Sasaki C, Shapiro R (1985) Computed tomography of temporal bone pneumatization: 1. Normal pattern and morphology. AJNR 6: 551–59
Wadin K (1988) Radio anatomy of the high jugular fossa and the labyrinthine portion of the facial canal. A radioanatomic and clinical investigation. Acta Radiol (Suppl) 372: 29–52
Wadin K, Wilbrand H (1987) The labyrinthine portion of the facial canal: A comparative radioanatomic investigation. Acta Radiologica Diagn 28: 17–23
Wilbrand H, Rauschning W (1986) Investigation of temporal bone anatomy by plastic moulding and cryomicrotomy. Acta Radiologica Diagn 27: 389–394
Wollf D, Bellucci RJ (1956) The human ossicular ligaments. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 65: 895–909
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Parlier-Cuau, C., Champsaur, P., Perrin, E. et al. High-resolution computed tomography of the canals of the temporal bone: Anatomic correlations. Surg Radiol Anat 20, 437–444 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01653137
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01653137