Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39051194›Full record

ReviewAudiology research2024

Insidious Cases of Enlarged Vestibular Aqueduct (EVA) Syndrome Resembling Otosclerosis: Clinical Features for Differential Diagnosis and the Role of High-Resolution Computed Tomography in the Pre-Operative Setting.

Giovanni Motta, Salvatore Allosso, Ludovica Castagna, Ghita Trifuoggi, Tonia Di Meglio, Domenico Testa, Massimo Mesolella, Gaetano Motta

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PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Audiology research, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Enlarged Vestibular Aqueduct: Audiological and Vestibular Profiles in Siblings with Genetic Mutations.Indian journal of otolaryngology and head and neck surgery : official publication of the Association of Otolaryngologists of India · 2025
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Giovanni MottaENT Unit-Department of Mental, Physical Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 80121 Naples, Italy.
Salvatore AllossoOtorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-4312-4711
Ludovica CastagnaENT Unit-Department of Mental, Physical Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 80121 Naples, Italy.
Ghita TrifuoggiENT Unit-Department of Mental, Physical Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 80121 Naples, Italy.
Tonia Di MeglioENT Unit-Department of Mental, Physical Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 80121 Naples, Italy.
Domenico TestaENT Unit-Department of Mental, Physical Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 80121 Naples, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-7176-3652
Massimo MesolellaOtorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-5081-1552
Gaetano MottaENT Unit-Department of Mental, Physical Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 80121 Naples, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundEnlarged vestibular aqueduct (EVA) syndrome can mimic otosclerosis in adults, presenting with an air-bone gap (ABG) and even absent stapedial reflexes. The ABG in inner-ear disorders is currently the object of several authors' studies and seems to be related to a third mobile window (TMW) phenomenon. This can lead to misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment. Given that it would be inappropriate and harmful to perform CT scans in all patients with a clinical diagnosis of otosclerosis, this study aims to highlight some clinical features useful for the differential diagnosis between otosclerosis and these rare cases of EVA presenting with an ABG, thus enabling the identification of suspected cases to be tested with CT scans.

methodsBetween April and May 2024, a narrative review was conducted focusing on the differential diagnosis between some rare cases of EVA and otosclerosis. Clinical, audiological, and radiologic features of both conditions were investigated.

resultsThis review demonstrates the diagnostic challenge in differentiating atypical cases of EVA from otosclerosis in a subset of patients. Clinical and audiological features are important for differential diagnosis, but may not always be sufficient. Therefore, high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of the temporal bone plays a pivotal role in definitive diagnosis.

conclusionsIn some specific cases, pre-operative imaging assessment using HRCT emerges as an essential tool for differentiating these two conditions and avoiding unnecessary stapes surgery.

Indexed as

air–bone gap (ABG)conductive hearing loss (CHL)dead earenlarged vestibular aqueduct (EVA)gusher syndromemixed hearing loss (MHL)otosclerosisstapes surgerythird mobile window (TMW)

Identifiers

PMID39051194
PMCPMC11270216

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.