2.1. Subjects
The STROBE statement for cross-sectional studies was adhered to. 179
patients with retrospective chart analysis unilateral COM with isolated
tympanic membrane perforation (group 1) and cholesteatoma/retraction
pocket (group 2) between 2015-2019 in our tertiary clinical was
performed. The demographic data, preoperative temporal bone
High-Resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT), and operation notes of each
patient were evaluated.
The inclusion criteria were (1) being over 18 years of age, (2) having
unilateral middle ear disease, and (3) visualization of all paranasal
sinuses in axial, coronal, and sagittal planes of preoperative HRCT. The
patients were excluded from the study in the presence of any
pathological findings in the contralateral ear and the sinonasal region
in physical or radiological examination. That exclusion had two
purposes: To create an internal control group with a healthy side and to
eliminate possible effects of ongoing sinonasal disease on the sinus
volumes.
The paranasal sinus volumes and the mastoid pneumatization of the
diseased and healthy sides of the patients were further evaluated for
statistical analysis.