• Zhaohui Liu, Jing Li, Pengfei Zhao, Han Lv, Cheng Dong, Wenjuan Liu, and Zhenchang Wang.
• Capital Medical University, Beijing Tongren Hospital, No 1 Dong Jiao Min Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100730, China. Electronic address: lzhtrhos@163.com.
• Eur J Radiol. 2015 May 1; 84 (5): 862-4.

Background And PurposeThe imaging features of sigmoid plate dehiscence-induced pulsatile tinnitus have been presented. The origin of the sigmoid plate dehiscence, however, remains unclear. Our aim was to assess the prevalence and extent of sigmoid plate dehiscence on computed tomography (CT) images in multiple age groups to determine whether this condition is more likely to be congenital or acquired.Materials And MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed contrast-enhanced CT images of sigmoid plates of temporal bones in 504 patients. Each temporal bone was characterized as normal or dehiscent. Patients were then subcategorized into four age groups, and the prevalence and extent of dehiscent sigmoid plates in each group were calculated and compared.ResultsOverall, 80 patients had sigmoid plate dehiscence, nine of whom had it bilaterally. In successively older age groups, the prevalences of sigmoid plate dehiscence were 18.9%, 20.1%, 14.5%, and 12.7%, respectively. Respective average anteroposterior bony defect diameters were 3.7±1.7, 3.0±1.3, 3.1±1.5, and 3.0±1.1 mm. Respective average vertical bony defect diameters were 3.6±2.3, 2.6±1.2, 3.2±1.5, and 3.0±1.7 mm. The prevalence and extent of sigmoid plate dehiscence were not statistically different among the four age groups.ConclusionsThe similar radiologic prevalence and extent of dehiscent sigmoid plates among the age groups suggest that the dehiscence is more commonly a congenital than an acquired condition.Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

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