Modified Translabyrinthine Approach for Massive Petrous Bone Cholesteatoma Removal and Cochlear Preservation Using Latent Spaces Anterior to the Cochlea.

OBJECTIVE: Microsurgery is the reference standard treatment of petrous bone cholesteatoma (PBC). In most cases, radical removal of an extensive PBC can only be achieved at the cost of sacrificing the cochlea. Such treatment will result in the impossibility of future cochlear implantation for hearing rehabilitation purposes. To address this issue, a modification of the traditional translabyrinthine (TL) approach with endoscopic assistance has been developed for radical removal of extensive PBC with preservation of the cochlea. METHODS: From June 2017 to December 2017, 3 patients with a massive PBC underwent surgical removal using the modified TL approach by the senior author in our department. We reviewed the patient characteristics and retrospectively studied the surgical outcomes and postoperative complications. In the present report, we have described our modified TL approach in detail. RESULTS: Complete resection of the PBC and successful cochlea preservation were achieved in all 3 patients. No recurrence had developed during the follow-up period. However, various degrees of cochlear ossification were observed in 2 patients postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: This modified TL approach provides the possibility of fully exposing the whole petrous apex without removing the cochlea in selected cases. However, the development of long-term cochlear ossification requires further investigation to allow for successful cochlear implantation.

[Baseline correction of Raman spectrum based on piecewise linear fitting].

The baseline drifts of Raman spectra occur in many types of instrumental measurements. It is an important part and a routine step to correct the baseline drift for the data preprocessing. In the present work, the limitations of the baseline correction method based on polynomial fitting were highlighted and a modified polynomial fitting method, i. e. piecewise linear fitting method, was proposed. Combined with the computer, this method could eliminate the baseline automatically. A series of Raman spectra of single polystyrene bead, red blood cell or yeast cell acquired by laser tweezers Raman spectroscopy were preprocessed by this method and its efficiency was verified. The results demonstrated that piecewise linear fitting can correct the baseline shifts effectively and provides more accurate information for further data analysis. It is a feasible method for correction of Raman spectrum.