Investigation of the Temporal Bone Involment in Covid-19

Abstract

Objective: To investigate temporal bone findings in COVID-19 Design: Retrospective study Settings: Using the database of our tertiary pandemic hospital, patients with COVID-19 infection with a positive PCR test and temporal bone tomography imaging were evaluated. Participants: 42 PCR positive COVID-19 patients with temporal bone imaging. Main outcome measures: A grading system was created to evaluate effusion in the middle ear and mastoid air cells. Also any specific sign in temporal bone imaging. Results: Patients were divided into two groups according to their chest CT findings. Group 1 had specific chest CT findings and included 26 patients, group 2 had no findings in chest CT and included 16 patients. No obvious temporal bone involvement was observed in any of the patients. Temporal bone imaging findings were compared according to a grading system and there was no difference between the groups (p=0,50). Conclusion: The SARS-CoV-2 does not affect the temporal bone. There was no sign of effusion in mastoid air cells or the middle ear or any specific sign in the temporal bone in our study group.