TY - JOUR
T1 - Comparative histology of the tympanic membrane and its relationship to cholesteatoma
AU - Chole, Richard A.
AU - Kodama, Kevin
PY - 1989/10
Y1 - 1989/10
N2 - The purpose of this study was to determine whether anatomic differences in the tympanic membranes of various species could explain differences in the propensity to form aural cholesteatomas and retraction pockets. Tympanic membranes from humans, dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, gerbils, and mice were examined histologically. The pars flaccida and pars tensa varied greatly among the species studied. The guinea pig's pars flaccida was very small and had a thin lamina propria. In contrast, the lamina propria of the rabbit and cat pars flaccida were thick. The amount of collagen, elastin, mast cells, and macrophages varied widely. The human and gerbilline tympanic membranes were anatomically dissimilar; for example, the human pars flaccida and pars tensa contained more and denser collagen than did those of the gerbil. The presence of macrophages or mast cells did not correlate with the propensity to develop cholesteatomas. Therefore, anatomic differences among these species do not explain why some develop aural cholesteatomas and others do not.
AB - The purpose of this study was to determine whether anatomic differences in the tympanic membranes of various species could explain differences in the propensity to form aural cholesteatomas and retraction pockets. Tympanic membranes from humans, dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, gerbils, and mice were examined histologically. The pars flaccida and pars tensa varied greatly among the species studied. The guinea pig's pars flaccida was very small and had a thin lamina propria. In contrast, the lamina propria of the rabbit and cat pars flaccida were thick. The amount of collagen, elastin, mast cells, and macrophages varied widely. The human and gerbilline tympanic membranes were anatomically dissimilar; for example, the human pars flaccida and pars tensa contained more and denser collagen than did those of the gerbil. The presence of macrophages or mast cells did not correlate with the propensity to develop cholesteatomas. Therefore, anatomic differences among these species do not explain why some develop aural cholesteatomas and others do not.
KW - cholesteatoma
KW - otitis media
KW - tympanic membrane
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0024468479&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/000348948909801002
DO - 10.1177/000348948909801002
M3 - Article
C2 - 2478069
AN - SCOPUS:0024468479
SN - 0003-4894
VL - 98
SP - 761
EP - 766
JO - Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology
JF - Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology
IS - 10
ER -