Anthropological study of the mastoid air cell system in Pakistani races.

This is an anthropological study of the development of the mastoid process in the four ethnic groups of Pakistani races: Turko-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Scytho-Dravidian, and Aryo-Dravidian. Cephalometric studies have established that the majority of Pakistanis are brachio to ultra-brachiocephalic (Cephalic Index 82-x). Radiological evaluation of normal mastoids and their planimetric measurements show that the mastoid process is smaller (Av: 10.24 sq.cm. +/- 0.8) than the Caucasian Western races (Av: 12-15 sq.cm.). Neither combined approach tympanoplasty, nor mastoid obliteration technique may be required, nor technically possible in a small mastoid. Natural epithelization of a small 'peanut size' mastoidectomy cavity does not justify these procedures. A modified radical mastoidectomy and tympanoplasty reconstruction provides a satisfactory result in chronic discharging ears.