Abstract Background Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) is a state of the art in imaging modality that provides high-resolution, 3D views of anatomical structures, making it essential for both otolaryngology and forensic applications. This study focuses on analyzing the external auditory canal (EAC) through CBCT emphasizing its morphological features and investigating dimensional differences between males and females. Objectives The objective was to determine the various dimensions, measurements, and grading of the external auditory canal (EAC) using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), providing insights that have not been previously published. Methodology A retrospective analysis was conducted on 100 cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans of the temporal bone (200 sides), excluding methods younger than 20 years, those with a history of ear or skull base surgery or trauma, and individuals with congenital anomalies, malignancies, or fibro-osseous lesions of the ear. All CBCT examinations were performed using the Carestream 9000 scanner on male and female methods aged 20 to 40 with exposure parameters set at 90 kV, 10 mA, a voxel size of 0.2 mm, and an acquisition time of 20 s. Results In the comparison between males and females, the mean age of males was 28.76 years (SD = 6.26), while the mean age of females was 30.92 years (SD = 6.23). This indicates that there was no significant difference in left ear volume between the two groups. When comparing the right and left ears, the mean volume of the right ear was consistently higher than that of the left ear across all groups. This demonstrates a consistent and significant difference in ear volume, with the right ear showing greater volume than the left in both genders. Conclusions EAC volume measurement using CBCT and ImageJ provides a comprehensive 3D assessment that goes beyond simple linear measurements. While this study found no significant gender-based difference in left ear volume, it demonstrated a consistent and significant difference between right and left ears with the right ear showing greater volume in both sexes. These findings establish baseline data that may be valuable in predicting surgical accessibility identifying pathological changes in the canal and contributing to anthropological applications.
Naveen et al. (Sat,) studied this question.