The Size of the Mastoid Air Cell System:Planimetry—Direct Volume Determination

The Possible Associations of Septal Deviation on Mastoid Pneumatization and Chronic Otitis

“…A simple mechanism to explain that function is that mastoid air cell surface area, which is directly related to the gas exchange rate, is less for larger mastoid air cell volumes. The mean volume of the mastoid air cells was reported to range between 5.8 to 12.2 ml as measured on healthy ears by x-rays and CT measurements (16,17). Gas exchange across the mastoid air cell mucosa has been documented in the previous studies (12Y15).…”

Development of Mastoid Air Cell System in Children Treated With Ventilation Tubes for Early-Onset Otitis Media: A Prospective Radiographic 5-Year Follow-Up Study

“…An important finding was that at the age of 6 months, all infants with healthy ears showed air cells around the antrum. In later studies, more detailed information of the mastoid air cell system (MACS) has been obtained with the planimetric measurements, and the measured size in centimeters squared has been found to correlate well with the actual MACS volume 10,11 . The measuring technique also appears reliable; for repeated measurements, only a 1.5% deviation has been reported 11 .…”

Morphometric examination of the paranasal sinuses and mastoid air cells using computed tomography

“… 6 , 9 , 10 – 14 Several studies on the pneumatization of temporal bone have been published. 8 , 11 , 15 In their book, Graney et al 15 reported several researchers’ results on measurement of paranasal sinuses at and after birth. Until the use of computed tomography (CT) by Haunsfield for diagnosis in 1972, x-ray films were used for the measurement of area, volume and shape of paranasal sinuses and the mastoid air cells.…”