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Full-Field Thickness Distribution of Human Tympanic Membrane Obtained with Optical Coherence Tomography

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Abstract

The full-field thickness distribution, three-dimensional surface model and general morphological data of six human tympanic membranes are presented. Cross-sectional images were taken perpendicular through the membranes using a high-resolution optical coherence tomography setup. Five normal membranes and one membrane containing a pathological site are included in this study. The thickness varies strongly across each membrane, and a great deal of inter-specimen variability can be seen in the measurement results, though all membranes show similar features in their respective relative thickness distributions. Mean thickness values across the pars tensa ranged between 79 and 97 μm; all membranes were thinnest in the central region between umbo and annular ring (50–70 μm), and thickness increased steeply over a small distance to approximately 100–120 μm when moving from the central region either towards the peripheral rim of the pars tensa or towards the manubrium. Furthermore, a local thickening was noticed in the antero–inferior quadrant of the membranes, and a strong linear correlation was observed between inferior–posterior length and mean thickness of the membrane. These features were combined into a single three-dimensional model to form an averaged representation of the human tympanic membrane. 3D reconstruction of the pathological tympanic membrane shows a structural atrophy with retraction pocket in the inferior portion of the pars tensa. The change of form at the pathological site of the membrane corresponds well with the decreased thickness values that can be measured there.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Dr. M. von Unge for his much appreciated help in the diagnosis of the pathological membrane TMP. S. Van der Jeught and J. Buytaert acknowledge the support of the Research Foundation–Flanders (FWO), J. Aerts acknowledges the support of the Flemish Agency for Innovation by Science and Technology (IWT) and A. Bradu and A. Podoleanu acknowledge the support of the ERC grant COGATIMABIO, 249889.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Biomedical Physics, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, B-2020, Antwerp, Belgium

    Sam Van der Jeught, Joris J. J. Dirckx, Johan R. M. Aerts & Jan A. N. Buytaert

  2. Applied Optics Group, School of Physical Sciences, University of Kent, CT2 7NH, Canterbury, UK

    Adrian Bradu & Adrian Gh Podoleanu

Authors
  1. Sam Van der Jeught
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  2. Joris J. J. Dirckx
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  3. Johan R. M. Aerts
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  4. Adrian Bradu
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  5. Adrian Gh Podoleanu
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  6. Jan A. N. Buytaert
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Correspondence to Sam Van der Jeught.

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Van der Jeught, S., Dirckx, J.J.J., Aerts, J.R.M. et al. Full-Field Thickness Distribution of Human Tympanic Membrane Obtained with Optical Coherence Tomography. JARO 14, 483–494 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10162-013-0394-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10162-013-0394-z

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