Acquisition of digital dataset of celloidin axial sectional images of temporal bone and comparative observation with CT images

Objective To make sequential axial sectional slices of the lateral skull base and obtain digitized dataset of the lateral skull base in order to provide reference for sectional study of imaging and clinical diagnosis of lateral skull base diseases.Methods Two cadaveric heads underwent coronal section after spiral CT scanning.After celloidin embedding,a brain slicer was used to make axial thin slices(100 μm),which was then photographed with a Sony F-717 and saved in a computer representative sections were selected for HE staining.Then the digital photo,the HE staining picture and the CT image were compared to describe the characteristics of anatomical structures,including the common crus plane,lateral semicircular canal plane,the horizontal segment of facial nerve plane,the vestibular window plane,the round window plane,internal orifice of jugular foramen plane.Results Two sets of complete axial digital thin sectional data were obtained(300 and 340 images,respectively).Delicate structures were shown clearly and spatial relationships between anatomical structures can be understood deeply by sequential,histological and CT comparative observation.Conclusion Celloidin embedding is an important method for obtaining high resolution sequential digital imaging data of lateral skull base.Histological and CT image comparative observation is an ideal method for studying characteristics of sectional anatomy of the lateral skull base.It provides valuble reference for imaging diagnosis.