HISTOPATHOLOGY OF THE INCUS AND THE HEAD OF THE MALLEUS IN CASES OF STAPEDIAL ANKYLOSIS

Abstract

Though many reports have appeared in the literature describing otosclerotic foci observed within the bony capsule in postmortem histologic studies of temporal bones, few histopathologic studies of the incus and the malleus in the presence of such otosclerotic foci in the labyrinthine capsule have been reported. In 1940 Covell¹reported on the ossicles in 46 temporal bones showing otosclerosis found in Nager's postmortem collection. He observed typical otosclerotic foci in both malleus and incus from both right and left ear in only 1 case. Nager²himself reported further on this same group of temporal bones, stressing particularly the altered position of the ossicles, resulting from changes in the joints, which may lead to complete immobilization of the malleus. Guild³in his study of the microscopic sections from the collection of temporal bones in the Johns Hopkins University Medical School wherein otosclerotic foci were observed and reported, did not mention pathologic