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http://dx.doi.org/10.7742/jksr.2017.11.6.467

A Study of the Characteristics of the Human External Auditory Canal Using 3-Dimensional Medical Imaging  

Kim, Hyeong-Gyun (Department of Radiological Science, Far East University)
Publication Information
Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology / v.11, no.6, 2017 , pp. 467-473 More about this Journal
Abstract
Using Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine(DICOM) and a 3D medical imaging program, the characteristics of the external auditory canal(EAC) were compared. Using images of the ears of 63 different male and female subjects of varying age, this study measured and compared EAC transverse axis lengths, internal diameter circumferences, and upper and lower curvature angles. The findings of the study indicated differences in EAC shapes according not only to age and sex but also to the left and right of the same subject. A comparison between the sexes of the subjects (35 males and 28 females) indicated that, on average, the length of the EAC was 4.75mm longer in males. Based on the lower curvature angle, the interior side of the diameter circumference of the EAC was found to be reduced on average by 37.2% compared to the exterior side. Although the upper curvature angle was on average $25.7^{\circ}$ larger than the lower curvature angle, 4 subjects showed a larger lower curvature angle and large differences between the upper and lower curvature angles were observed in 8 subjects of the younger age group (4~14 years old). This indicated changes in EAC curvature shapes during growth. This study presents a method to raise safety and precision by comparing direct measurements taken through physical means and indirect measurements acquired from existing ear samples. This was possible due to technological developments in which 3D medical image representation technology creates images close to reality, and, through further development, this method is expected to be used for standardization research of EAC shapes.
Keywords
Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine(DICOM); External Auditory Canal(EAC); 3-Dimensional Image; Age; Sex;
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Times Cited By KSCI : 4  (Citation Analysis)
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