Persistent foramen of Huschke (foramen tympanicum): Morphology, morphometry, developmental persistence, and imaging characteristics – A scoping review
- 1Research Faculty, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Saveetha University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India; Corresponding author.
- 2Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Saveetha University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Abstract
Background: The persistent foramen of Huschke (foramen tympanicum) is a developmental osseous opening of the tympanic plate that may provide a communication between the external auditory canal and the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) region. Focal tympanic-plate thinning and acquired dehiscence can resemble a persistent foramen radiologically but represent distinct morphologic categories. Objective: To map developmental persistence, morphology, morphometry, demographic patterns, imaging features, and clinical associations of the persistent foramen of Huschke. Methods: PubMed/MEDLINE was searched from database inception (without a lower publication-year limit) to 16 September 2026; OpenAlex/Crossref metadata, journal and publisher websites, and bidirectional citation tracking provided supplementary discovery. Eligible human osteological and cross-sectional imaging studies were charted descriptively by sampling frame and analytic unit; pooling was not undertaken because study populations and ascertainment methods differed. Results: Forty-four primary studies were included (13 osteological/developmental and 31 imaging studies). Reported frequencies ranged from 0.7% in an early anatomical series to approximately 38% in selected skull collections; estimates from TMD and necrotizing external otitis cohorts were analyzed separately from routine imaging cohorts. Most imaged patent defects were oval and approximately 1–4 mm. Sex and laterality findings varied. Cross-sectional age associations do not demonstrate closure, enlargement, or progression within individuals. Conclusion: A patent developmental foramen, intact focal tympanic-plate thinning, and acquired osseous dehiscence require separate characterization. Standardized morphology, acquisition reporting, and explicit individual- and side-level denominators will improve future anatomical and imaging comparisons.
Related
- Associations Between Upright Cardiovascular-Autonomic Characteristics, Temporal Gait Measures, and Mediolateral Plantar Center-of-Force Measures in Adults with Developmental Disabilities: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study
- Research progress on developmental characteristics and clinical intervention of restricted and repetitive interests/behaviors in autism spectrum disorder across the lifespan: a narrative review
- Relationship between the geometric characteristics of the craniocervical junction and the persistence of postoperative symptoms in patients with Arnold-Chiari malformation type I.
- Persistent pocket-site pain after cardiac implantable electronic device implantation: a prospective observational study of prevalence, neuropathic characteristics, and quality of life.
- Structural alterations in the superior temporal gyrus associated with depressive symptoms in migraine without aura: a voxel-based morphometry and surface-based morphometry magnetic resonance imaging study
BibTeX
@article{patil2026persistent,
title = {{Persistent foramen of Huschke (foramen tympanicum): Morphology, morphometry, developmental persistence, and imaging characteristics – A scoping review}},
author = {Santosh R. Patil and Mohmed Isaqali Karobari},
journal = {Translational Research in Anatomy},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1016/j.tria.2026.100533},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tria.2026.100533},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Persistent foramen of Huschke (foramen tympanicum): Morphology, morphometry, developmental persistence, and imaging characteristics – A scoping review
AU - Santosh R. Patil
AU - Mohmed Isaqali Karobari
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/30
JO - Translational Research in Anatomy
DO - 10.1016/j.tria.2026.100533
UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tria.2026.100533
AB - Background: The persistent foramen of Huschke (foramen tympanicum) is a developmental osseous opening of the tympanic plate that may provide a communication between the external auditory canal and the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) region. Focal tympanic-plate thinning and acquired dehiscence can resemble a persistent foramen radiologically but represent distinct morphologic categories. Objective: To map developmental persistence, morphology, morphometry, demographic patterns, imaging features, and clinical associations of the persistent foramen of Huschke. Methods: PubMed/MEDLINE was searched from database inception (without a lower publication-year limit) to 16 September 2026; OpenAlex/Crossref metadata, journal and publisher websites, and bidirectional citation tracking provided supplementary discovery. Eligible human osteological and cross-sectional imaging studies were charted descriptively by sampling frame and analytic unit; pooling was not undertaken because study populations and ascertainment methods differed. Results: Forty-four primary studies were included (13 osteological/developmental and 31 imaging studies). Reported frequencies ranged from 0.7% in an early anatomical series to approximately 38% in selected skull collections; estimates from TMD and necrotizing external otitis cohorts were analyzed separately from routine imaging cohorts. Most imaged patent defects were oval and approximately 1–4 mm. Sex and laterality findings varied. Cross-sectional age associations do not demonstrate closure, enlargement, or progression within individuals. Conclusion: A patent developmental foramen, intact focal tympanic-plate thinning, and acquired osseous dehiscence require separate characterization. Standardized morphology, acquisition reporting, and explicit individual- and side-level denominators will improve future anatomical and imaging comparisons.
SN - 2214-854X
ER -