Inomoto Y, Suzuki C
Department of Otolaryngology, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine.
Nihon Jibiinkoka Gakkai Kaiho. 2000 Sep;103(9):970-6. doi: 10.3950/jibiinkoka.103.970.
There are numerous reports on microfissures in the round window niche area, but not many reports have appeared on microfissures in the oval window niche area. In addition, few studies have compared microfissures between the oval and round window niche areas in the same subjects. Hence, the present study investigated the prevalence of microfissures in both areas in human temporal bones. The study was conducted on the 637 ears of 333 cases. Specimens were prepared according to the conventional methods: after fixation, decalcification and dehydration, each specimen was embedded in Celloidin, and the temporal bones were sectioned horizontally at 25-micron intervals. Every 10th section was stained with hematoxylin & eosin, and each section was analyzed under a light microscope. The prevalence of microfissures was analyzed in relation to the sex, left/right differences and age of the subjects. Microfissures were seen in the oval window niche area in 66.2%, and in the round window niche area in 92.0%. When a microfissure was seen in the oval window niche area, it was also detected in the round window niche area in every case. There were no sex or left/right differences in the prevalence of microfissures, and microfissures occurred bilaterally in most cases. The youngest subject with a microfissure in the oval window niche area was a 14-year-old, and the prevalence increased with age up to approximately 60 years. On the other hand, microfissures in the round window niche area were seen in a 3-year-old, and were seen in most cases over the age of ten. These findings suggest that microfissures are more likely to occur in the round window niche area as compared to the oval window niche area. However, the prevalence of microfissures in the oval window niche area was not low either, and it is important to pay attention to both the oval and round niche areas when microfissures are involved in the formation of perilymph fistulae. Given that the prevalence of microfissures in the oval window niche area increased up to about 60 years of age, not only growth, but also mastication, may be involved in the occurrence of microfissures.
关于圆窗龛区域微裂隙的报道众多，但关于卵圆窗龛区域微裂隙的报道却不多。此外，很少有研究在同一受试者中比较卵圆窗龛区域和圆窗龛区域的微裂隙情况。因此，本研究调查了人类颞骨中这两个区域微裂隙的发生率。该研究对333例患者的637只耳朵进行。标本按照常规方法制备：固定、脱钙和脱水后，将每个标本包埋在火棉胶中，颞骨以25微米的间隔水平切片。每隔10张切片用苏木精和伊红染色，在光学显微镜下对每张切片进行分析。分析微裂隙的发生率与受试者的性别、左右差异和年龄的关系。在卵圆窗龛区域发现微裂隙的比例为66.2%，在圆窗龛区域为92.0%。当在卵圆窗龛区域发现微裂隙时，在每种情况下圆窗龛区域也能检测到。微裂隙的发生率不存在性别或左右差异，大多数情况下微裂隙是双侧出现的。卵圆窗龛区域出现微裂隙的最年轻受试者为14岁，发生率随年龄增长直至约60岁。另一方面，圆窗龛区域的微裂隙在一名3岁儿童中被发现，大多数情况下在10岁以上的患者中可见。这些发现表明，与卵圆窗龛区域相比，微裂隙更易发生在圆窗龛区域。然而，卵圆窗龛区域微裂隙的发生率也不低，当微裂隙参与外淋巴瘘的形成时，关注卵圆窗龛区域和圆窗龛区域都很重要。鉴于卵圆窗龛区域微裂隙的发生率在约60岁时升高，微裂隙的发生可能不仅与生长有关，还与咀嚼有关。
