[Cochlear otosclerosis: 3 cases report and literature review].

Objective: To investigate the clinical features in cochlear otosclerosis.

Method: Three cases with cochlear otosclerosis in our hospital from March 2007 to October 2008 were reported and the relevant literatures were reviewed. All the cases were confirmed the diagnose by temporal bone high-resolution CT scan (HRCT).

Result: The chief complaint when visited was recurrent episodic vertigo or equilibrium disturbance with progressing hearing loss in all cases. Two ears in 2 cases were simple sensorineural deafness and considered the pure cochlear otosclerosis. Others were mixed deafness with the descent of bone conduction in different extent. The characters in HRCT: the low density area could be seen in different areas of the otic capsule, the pericochlear lucency or double-ring effect were the typical signs.

Conclusion: The diagnosis of cochlear otosclerosis is considered in the insoluble sensorineural deafness and the mixed deafness with vestibular symptoms and chronic hearing loss history. Temporal bone HRCT plays an important role in the clinical diagnosis of cochlear otosclerosis.