Objectives: The aim of this study is to measure the tympanic cavity (TC) volumes with Cavalieri principle using computed tomography (CT) scanning of temporal bones, to investigate the difference between the right and the left ears with respect to sexes and to exemplify the TC volume measurements.
Patients and methods: Clinical records of 91 patients (46 females 45 males; mean age 48.1 years; range 15 to 60 years) whose TCs were measured at ear nose throat clinic of Ankara Oncology Education and Research Hospital between January 2007 and March 2008, were retrospectively investigated. The CT scans which were obtained from two sides with a slice thickness of 1 mm were evaluated. Measurements of TC volumes were made with using the Cavalieri method.
Results: The mean TC volume in male subjects was 0.4721+/-0.0406 cm(3) on the left ears and 0.4883+/-0.0352 cm(3) on the right ears. In females the mean cavity volume was 0.4943+/-0.0501 cm(3) on the left ears and 0.4881+/-0.0485 cm(3) on the right ears.
Conclusion: There was no statistically difference in between of the both sexes for the TC volume measurements and between both sites of the same individuals.