Otoradiological evaluation of patients with aural atresia: a retrospective study

Patients affected by aural atresia and microtia are frequently evaluated by multiple specialists (ENT, maxilla-facial and plastic surgeons, specialist in audiology and phoniatrics) and most of them require a radiological evaluation for the correct rehabilitative and surgical planning. The present study, including 190 patients currently in follow up at the Otorhinolaryngology Clinic of the Azienda Ospedale Università Padova, aim to identify the timing of execution of the CT in our cohort of patients. Moreoer, the prevalence of vascular, auricular, mandibular and central nervous system anomalies detectable by means of CT will be discussed, focusing on the possible clinical impact of the detection of these malformations. In our cohort, most patients underwent imaging in the first year of life. The most frequently reported anomalies are those of the posterior labyrinth and the mandibular condyle. Even though a limited amount of patients presented carotid artery and cervical vertebrae anomalies, they should be remembered for their clinical relevance.