Anatomical study between the correlation of the arcuate eminence and the superior semicircular canal.

OBJECTIVE: To study the anatomical correlation between the arcuate eminence and the superior semicircular canal. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A study of the height of the arcuate eminence was carried out in 295 temporal bones. In addition, 30 temporals with different heights of the arcuate eminence (10 flat, 10 prominent and 10 very prominent) were randomly selected and radiological tests were performed by computed tomography (Pöschl projection) and subsequent dissection by milling until the apex of the superior semicircular canal was found, establishing, with both methods, the anatomical relationship with the arcuate eminence. RESULTS: The arcuate eminence was classified as: smooth, when there was no relief (1.7%); flat, measured less than 1 mm (20.3%), prominent, measured between 1 and 2 mm, in (62%), and very prominent, measured above 2 mm (12.6%). The tomographic study (CT) and its subsequent dissection by bone milling showed a direct relationship between the arcuate eminence and the semicircular canal only when it was flat, while the rest of the types corresponded to the presence of pneumatized peri-labyrinthine cells and/or cancellous bone without a direct anatomical relationship with the apex of the superior semicircular canal. CONCLUSION: The correlation between the arcuate eminence and the superior semicircular canal is direct only when it is flat (1 mm), being related to peri-labyrinthine cells and/or cancellous bone when the arcuate eminence is prominent or very prominent.

Association between superior semicircular canal dehiscence and other dehiscences in temporal bone.

BACKGROUND: The study of the association between superior semicircular canal and other dehiscences in the temporal bone. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We have studied computed tomography of radiologically diagnosed people with superior or posterior semicircular canal dehiscences, in four health centres. In addition, we have studied one isolated human temporal bone, one skull and one cadaver head belonging to the collection of the Department of Human Anatomy and Histology of the University of Zaragoza that had dehiscence in the superior semicircular canal. RESULTS: The most frequent association that we observed was between superior semicircular canal dehiscence and tegmen tympani dehiscence (37.33%). Three cases (two clinical cases and one isolated temporal bone) showed multiple associated dehiscences (tegmen tympani, mastoid antrum, posterior semicircular canal, internal auditory canal, glenoid cavity, tympanum bone and geniculate ganglion) associated with superior semicircular canal dehiscence. CONCLUSIONS: When the superior semicircular canal dehiscence is associated to other in the petrous bone (tegmen tympani, mastoid antrum, posterior semicircular canal, internal auditory canal) could be grouped into the same syndrome called "otic capsule syndrome", since they have the same origin and common aetiology (otic capsule).

Granulocytic sarcoma presenting as atypical mastoiditis with facial paralysis: description of a case.

We describe a case of temporal granulocytic sarcoma in a 26-year-old patient after apparent molecular remission of an acute myeloid leukaemia. He complained of otodynia with hearing loss and facial paralysis on the right side. He was treated with chemotherapy and self-transplant haematopoietic stem cells. He was cured clinically, molecular remission of the haematological processes was achieved, and he remained asymptomatic for three years. Facial paralysis and hearing loss associated with temporal GS should be treated with chemotherapy. Aggressive surgery may complicate the clinical course of the disease and it should be avoided.