Measurement of skull thickness by ultrasound

Background: The presurgical diagnostic for measurement of skull thickness for implantations of epithesis or bone anchored hearing aids is limited on computed tomography (CT) of petrosal bone up to now. Testing of ultrasound for measurement of skull thickness is the aim of our study. Material and methods: 20 patients has been included, which had got a computed tomography of nasal sinus, skull or petrosal bone. The potential localisations of implantations have been measured by 3D-reconstruction of computed tomography. The results have been statistical compared by sonographic investigations (7.5 MHz Soundhead) at the same localisation. Results: The mean skull thickness has been 5,2 mm in computed tomography. Comparison has described a mean skull thickness of 4,2 mm in sonography. Statistical comparison has shown that ultrasound has been measured statistical significant too small. Conclusions: The skull thickness can be described and measured by sonography. However mean skull thickness has been measured statistical significant too small. In spite of this conclusions relating to presurgical diagnostic for instance for the implantation of epithesis and bone anchored hearing aids can be drawn by sonographic datas.