CONSERVATIVE TREATMENT OF
OTOSCLEROSIS®
Tel : 0030-741-26631
FAX : 0030-741-85030
e-mail : pharmage@otenet.gr
www.gelis.gr
Dr Dimitrios N. Gelis, MD, DDS,
Dr of Med.
Otorhinolaryngologist; Specialized in
ORL Allergy and Neurootology, and Phoniatrics, Korinthia,
Greece,
Evangelos Golas MD,
Otorhinolaryngologist; Specialized in ORL Allergy and
Neurootology, and Phoniatrics,, Iohannina, Hepirus, Greece.
Konstantinos Lytridis, MD,
Otorhinolaryngologist, Specialized in ORL Allergy and
Neurootology, Levadia, Viotia, Greece.
Dr Trifon Kyratzidis, MD,
Otorhinolaryngologist, Dr of Med.; Specialized in
Neurootology, Otosurgery, and Cochlear Implants, Verria,
Imathia, Greece.
INTRODUCTION
Otosclerosis is a bone dysplasia limited
to the optic capsule causing abnormal resumption and
redeposition of bone. The existence
of the entity "pure labyrinthine otosclerosis" or "cochlear
otosclerosis" is not accepted by all authors; however, there
is clinical and histologic evidence to support the existence
of a progressive sensorineural hearing loss due to
otospongiotic-otosclerotic lesions of the labyrinthine
capsule, although diagnosis of this condition may be
difficult. The involvement of the inner ear is described as
degenerative changes in the spiral ligament, stria
vascularis, organ of Corti, and cochlear neurons. The most
frequent audiometric configuration is a "bite-type" curve,
but flat or rising shapes can also be observed; speech
discrimination appears unusually good for a pure
sensorineural hearing loss and recruitment is frequently
absent. A cochlear otosclerosis should be suspected when
there is a family history of otosclerosis, the onset of the
hearing loss occurs from the third to fifth decade, and
worsening of the hearing loss is observed during periods of
intense hormonal and endocrine activity, a positive
Schwartze sign is present and bilateral sensorineural loss
is associated with signs of unilateral stapedial ankylosis.
A definitive diagnosis of cochlear otosclerosis can be made
only with computed tomography, which allows a quantitative
assessment of the involvement of the labyrinthine capsule by
spongiotic or sclerotic areas. The
factors to be considered are: otosclerotic foci 1 mm or more
in diameter and a density different from that of the normal
otic capsule, partially or completely erased contour of the
capsule, double ring effect, bony neoformation in the
labyrinthine spaces, and increased thickness of the cochlear
capsule, (Sellari-Franceschini
S. et al, 1998) (15).
Mericon
Industries