A radiologico-anatomical comparative study of the cochlear aqueduct.

AIM A comparative radiologico-anatomical study of the cochlear aqueduct (CA) was performed. MATERIALS AND METHODS Eight cadavers and 23 dry temporal bones were studied. High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) was carried out on each cadaver before microdissection. Microdissection was carried out in a plane parallel to the HRCT sections. RESULTS The CA was found to be located an average of 7 mm inferior to the internal acoustic meatus and at the superior edge of the jugular foramen. The external aperture of the CA was triangular in shape in 18 bones (78.3%). The petrosal fossa was located just inferior to the external aperture and housed the glossopharyngeal nerve, which had an incomplete bony canal in four bones (17.4%) and a complete bony canal in three bones (13%). It was possible to demonstrate the petrosal portion of the CA on both coronal and axial HRCT. The otic capsule segment of the CA was impossible to demonstrate on coronal sections. CONCLUSION The CA cannot be visualized in only one section of the plane in HRCT. Both the otic capsule and petrosal segments can be demonstrated on axial HRCT.

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