Isolated congenital round window absence

Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2002 Sep;111(9):799-801. doi: 10.1177/000348940211100907.

Abstract

Absence of the round window as a congenital defect is a rare entity that causes a conductive hearing loss. To the best of our knowledge, isolated and nonsyndromal round window absence has only been reported 3 times; the diagnoses were made during surgery. We are reporting on another case that was diagnosed before operation by virtual endoscopy of the middle ear during a high-resolution computed tomography scan. Although this new technique requires further validation, it may be an alternative to surgery as a means of confirming this rare diagnosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Endoscopy
  • Female
  • Hearing Loss, Conductive / congenital*
  • Hearing Loss, Conductive / etiology
  • Humans
  • Round Window, Ear / abnormalities*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • User-Computer Interface