Abstract
To clarify the mechanism of bone destruction in chronic otitis media with choleateatoma, the morphology of the destroyed bone surface in contact with an attic retraction choles teatoma (dextra) of a forty-five year old Japanese female was analyzed at the molecular level, using Laser-Raman spectroscopy. The intensity of the signal due to CO32- on the destroyed bone surface was weaker than that on the normal surface. The intensity of signals due to P-O-P linkage and H2PO4- was barely detectable on the destroyed bone surface. The intensity of gnals attributed to fatty acids and inorganic compounds were higher on the destroyed bone surface than that on the normal. On the basis of the above results, we proprose the following hypothesis concerning with the mechanism of bone destruction. In the process of bone destruction, both demineralization and remineralization might occur under the acidic condition present at the bone surface. Thus we suggest that the inorganic material of the destroyed bone is hydroxylapatite or a similar substance.
