The biochemical analysis of tympanosclerotic plaques

Abstract

Objective: We conducted a biochemical analysis of tympanosclerotic (TS) plaques.

Methods: Forty-five samples containing TS plaques were obtained from 45 patients. Qualitative and quantitative biochemical analyses were performed. TS plaques were evaluated macroscopically in respect to color and structure.

Results: Phosphate, calcium, ammonium, and cholesterol were detected in 44, 43, 35, and 7 samples, respectively. Mean calcium and phosphate levels and protein levels of samples were 2.5 +/- 2.6 mg/100 mg tissue, 0.16 +/- 0.11 mg, and 3.4 +/- 3.4 mg, respectively. TS plaques were dirty white in 20 samples, brunette in 13, yellowish in 4, white in 7, and brown in 1. The structure of TS plaques was hard in consistency in 23 samples, fibrous in 14 samples, and soft in 8 samples.

Conclusion: The wider range of values and different mineral contents in our series might be explained by the fact that we had a much larger variety of tissues in various stages of the TS process. The color and the consistency of TS plaques are due to the discrepancy in their content and the amount of mineral, cholesterol, and protein.