Other studies have implanted chondrocytes onto synthetic mesh materials preformed into shapes such as circles, crosses, and even the complex shape of the human ear. Chondrocytes grown in this way produce a mature cartilage form similar to the preformed shape. Our study uses established tissue-engineering techniques to grow cartilage and bone subcutaneously in nude mice. After 6 weeks of growth, the engineered block of tissue is removed surgically, carved into a desired configuration and reimplanted. At 20 weeks, the previously carved tissue is removed and analyzed with digital photography for gross retention of shape and size.
Histologic examination confirms the presence of mature cartilage or bone.
In this manner, a custom bony or cartilaginous prosthesis can be tissue-engineered. The results of this study will be presented in detail, along with implications for future direction of tissue-engineering studies. San Antonio, Tex. Intraoperative microscopic examination revealed a left pulsatile mass in the middle ear space. The patient's hospital course, now at our institution, was complicated by progressive symptoms of worsening headache, vertigo, pulsatile tinnitus, and systolic blood pressures greater than 200 mm Hg.