Petrous apex pneumatisation in children: a radiological study

Abstract

Objective This study aimed to investigate petrous apex pneumatisation in children, as an understanding of petrous apex pneumatisation is useful in the diagnosis and surgical management of middle-ear disease. Methods Computed tomography head scans from 1700 patients aged 0–16 years were assessed. Petrous apex bone and air cell volumes were calculated to determine the degree of petrous apex pneumatisation. Scans were analysed for communicating tracts between the middle ear and petrous apex. Results Petrous apex pneumatisation was found in 21.0 per cent of patients. Positive relationships were found between age and petrous apex pneumatisation prevalence (rs = 0.990, p < 0.001), and between age and degree of petrous apex pneumatisation (rs = 0.319, p < 0.001). Petrous apex pneumatisation prevalence did not significantly differ by sex or ethnicity. Communicating tracts were identified in 84.3 per cent of patients with petrous apex pneumatisation, most commonly anterior to the otic capsule. Conclusion In children, the prevalence and degree of petrous apex pneumatisation increases with age, but prevalence is not affected by sex or ethnicity.