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Introduction: Multislice Computed Tomography (MCT) is the main radiographic examination to evaluate mastoid air cell system. Hounsfield Unit density (HU), determined by MCT is useful to evaluate mastoid pneumatization, but HU values in different genders, right/left mastoid sides, as well as their association with age have not been studied yet. Aim: To evaluate the difference in Hounsfield density values between genders as well as between right and left sides, and also to correlate HU with age. Materials and Methods: A total of 102 skull MCT examinations that included mastoid process of temporal bone were evaluated (47 from male and 55 from female patients). The HU was measured at mastoid cavity applying exclusively axial slices in a standardized region of interest. All statistical analyses were performed at a level of significance of 5%, using IBM SPSS Statistics 17, SPSS®, Inc, Chicago, IL. Linear regression was used to determine the relationship between age and HU; Non-parametric tests were performed to evaluate differences between right and left sides, as well as between genders. Results: No statistical significant differences was observed between left and right sides HU values (p-value=0.676) nor between male and female (p-value=0.155), according to Mann-Whitney test. Age was not correlated with HU values (p-value=0.06). Conclusion: Within the limitations of the present investigation, we concluded that the Mastoid Air Cells System (MACS) HU values do not vary among male and female individuals and left-right sides. Age is advocated to be associated with the volume of mastoid pneumatization, but it may not be related to differences in HU values. |
