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.