Evaluation of the Radiological Anatomy of the Temporal Bone Air Spaces and Morphometric Analysis in Turkish Healthy Adults

SUMMARY: The temporal bone is a complicate structure which located on the lateral skull. The objective of the present study was to determine the temporal bone air spaces’ morphometry, morphology, and pneumatization in Turkish healthy adult people. This retrospective observational study was carried out from 82 subjects (47 males, 35 females) aged 18-69 years. The external auditory canal and related structures’ diameters and the volume of these areas were evaluated. The means and standard deviations of the Meatus acusticus externus length (MAEL), meatus acusticus externus pars cartilaginea length (MAEcL), meatus acusticus externus pars ossea length (MAEoL), meatus acusticus externus pars cartilaginea surface (MAEcS), meatus acusticus externus pars ossea surface (MAEoS), meatus acusticus externus volume (MAEV), meatus acusticus externus pars cartilaginea volume (MAEcV), meatus acusticus externus pars ossea volume (MAEoV), processus mastoideus air cells volume (PMACV), cavum tympani volume (CTV), and temporale pneumatic spaces volume (OTPSV) were found as 23.21±3.70 mm, 12.69±3.72 mm, 7.80±3.70 mm, 669.89±107.7 mm2, 267.50±30.51 mm2, 743.50±119.6 mm3, 971.97±156.69 mm3, 419.51±48.67 mm3, 5915.93±650.34 mm3, 673.48±91.93 mm3, 7813.34±717.49 mm3 have found in 82 subjects, respectively. In this paper, the morphometric and volume properties of the temporal bone cavities measurements were significantly higher in males than females. These results may both provide reference values of Turkish healthy population, and lead to decrease potential surgical complications about temporal and mastoid regions.