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Background The standard methods for diagnosing otosclerosis (OS) include clinical and audiological testing. Radiologic imaging continues to expand with use in diagnosis, staging, surgery planning, and outcomes. Objective To determine if high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) imaging advances to the audiological findings in the diagnosis of otosclerosis. Methods This prospective randomized controlled study was conducted from June 2018 to June 2022. Fifty patients with OS who divided into two subgroups: group 2a, 50 early OS ears, and group 2b, 35 ears with late OS. The controls includes 50 individuals who have healthy ears (group 1). All participants had otorhinolaryngology examination, audiological evaluation and HRCT imaging. Results Early OS had higher air conduction thresholds than control, and late OS had considerably higher air conduction thresholds than either the early or control subjects ( p  < 0.001). Early OS patients had higher bone conduction threshold (BCT) than control, while late OS patients had higher BCT than both early and control subjects ( p  < 0.001). In early and late OS, there is a significant association between bone conduction of 11 dB and 21.6 dB, respectively ( P  = 0.004), and a significant air–bone gap of 25.5 and 31 dB, respectively ( P  = 0.03). HRCT showed a sensitivity of 75% and high specificity 92% with accuracy 83% in early OS and sensitivity of 78% and high specificity 94% with accuracy 86% in late OS. Conclusion HRCT is a more sensitive and specific diagnostic tool for OS than audiometry. HRCT could discriminate between early and late OS, suggesting that it can be used to do so with a high degree of confidence.

Background and Aim: Behcet disease (BD) is a rare chronic relapsing-remitting inflammatory systemic vasculitis. BD patients were reported to have marked acceleration of subclinical atherosclerosis (SCA). Endocan is a soluble proteoglycan mainly secreted by the activated endothelium. The present study aimed to assess the relation between serum endocan levels and SCA in BD patients. Subjects and Methods: The study included 40 adult BD patients in addition to twenty age- and sex-matched healthy controls. BD was diagnosed according to International Study Group criteria. Upon recruitment, all participants were subjected to careful history taking and thorough clinical examination. BD activity was assessed using Behcet Syndrome Activity Score. Measurement of serum endocan was performed using quantitative double-antibody sandwich ELISA kit. CIMT measurement was done using B-mode ultrasound. Results: Comparison between patients and controls regarding serum endocan levels revealed significantly higher endocan levels in BD patients [median (IQR): 155.0 (69.3-610.0) versus 73.8 (51.9-94.6)]. Using ultrasound assessment, SCA was found in 14 BD patients (35.0%). Comparison between patients with SCA and patients without regarding the clinical and laboratory data revealed that the former group had significantly higher CRP [median (IQR): 36.5 (26.8-43.5) versus 21.0 (11.8-26.8) mg/dL, p < 0.001] and endocan [median (IQR): 622.0 (107.4-974.8) versus 104.5 (64.0-342.0) mg/dL, p = 0.004] levels. Logistic regression analysis recognized endocan [OR (95% CI): 1.0 (1.0-1.012), p0.035] levels as significant predictor of SCA in multivariate analysis. Conclusion: The present study identified the clinical value of serum endocan levels as a possible early marker of vascular involvement in BD patients. Keywords: Behcet's disease, subclinical atherosclerosis, endocan