Virtual endoscopy of the middle ear

Virtual endoscopy is a computer-generated simulation of fiberoptic endoscop y, and its application to the study of the middle ear has been recently pro posed. The need to represent the middle ear anatomy by means of virtual end oscopy arose from the increased interest of otolarygologists in transtympan ic endoscopy. In fact, this imaging method allows the visualization of midd le ear anatomy with high detail, but it is evasive and is essentially used for surgical guidance. Virtual endoscopy provides similar perspectives of t he tympanic cavity but does not require the tympanic perforation. In the st udy of the middle ear, specific attention is given to the retroperitoneum. This region contains elevations of the medial wall (pyramidal eminence and ridge, styloid eminence and ridge, subiculum, ponticulus) and depressions ( sinus tympani, posterior sinus tympani, facial sinus, fossula of Grivot, ov al window fossula), which can be effectively displayed by virtual endoscopy . Virtual endoscopy is foreseen as a useful tool in preoperative management of patients who are candidates for middle ear surgery, since it can predic t with high detail the patient's specific anatomy by imaging perspectives f amiliar to otosurgeons.