Middle ear volume as an adjunct measure in congenital aural atresia

A B S T R A C T Objective: To examine middle ear volume in patients with aural atresia and investigate the role of middle ear volume as an adjunct measure in determining surgical candidacy. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of children with aural atresia in a tertiary academic pediatric otolaryngology practice. High resolution multiplanar CT scans of the temporal bones were analyzed for middle ear volume and staged according to existing clinical grading scales. Atretic ears were compared to the nonatretic ears of the same patient as well as to ears of a control population. Results: The average age of patients at the time CT was performed was 4.7 years (range