Temporal bone pneumatization: meta-analysis of its characteristics with implications for head and neck surgery.

Abstract

Background: The present meta-analysis aimed to analyze the morphological and morphometric aspects of temporal bone pneumatization based on the data in the available literature. It is hoped that our results may be useful for physicians, especially head and neck surgeons, performing procedures in the temporal bone region.

Materials and methods: A systematic search was conducted in which all articles regarding the temporal bone pneumatization were searched for. Major medical databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library were searched through. The overall search process was conducted in 3 stages.

Results: Overall, the analyses were based on the results of 3482 patients. The pooled mean surface area of the mastoid air cell system in adults was found to be 174.68 cm² (SE = 29.58). In children (14-18 years old) mean of the said parameter was found to be 114.36 cm² (SE = 44.21). The pooled mean volume of mastoid pneumatization in adults was found to be 7.74 cm³ (SE = 1.14). The pooled mean volume of the temporal bone pneumatization in adults was found to be 8.41 cm³ (SE = 0.58).

Conclusions: The present meta-analysis analyzed the characteristics of TBP. Our results show the mean values of the morphometric properties of the air cell system in humans. This information may be highly significant when performing numerous otolaryngological procedures, such as mastoidectomies or skull base operations in the area of the petrous apex. Furthermore, the present study results prove how the size of the air cells increases with age. It is hoped that our results may be useful for physicians operating on the temporal bone.