The value of CT scanning in chronic suppurative otitis media

High definition CT has been advocated for the evaluation of chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) either generally or in selected cases. It is said to be capable of producing the fine detail needed to detect lateral canal fistulae, exposed dura and facial canal dehiscences, and to demonstrate the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of laryngology and otology 1991-12, Vol.105 (12), p.990-994
Main Authors: O'Reilly, B. J., Chevretton, E. B., Wylie, I., Thakkar, C., Butler, P., Sathanathan, N., Morrison, G. A., Kenyon, G. S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
C.T. scanning
Cholesteatoma
Cholesteatoma - diagnostic imaging
Chronic Disease
Diagnosis, Differential
Ear - diagnostic imaging
Ear Canal - diagnostic imaging
Ear Diseases - diagnostic imaging
Humans
Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects)
Main Articles
Medical sciences
Otitis meda
Otitis Media, Suppurative - diagnostic imaging
Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology. Orbit
Radiodiagnosis. Nmr imagery. Nmr spectrometry
Retrospective Studies
Semicircular Canals - diagnostic imaging
suppurative
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
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Summary:High definition CT has been advocated for the evaluation of chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) either generally or in selected cases. It is said to be capable of producing the fine detail needed to detect lateral canal fistulae, exposed dura and facial canal dehiscences, and to demonstrate the ossicular chain. At present there is no agreement on either the indications for CT scanning in CSOM or the most appropriate scanning plane. To determine the value of high definition CT in CSOM and to decide a unit policy for its application, 36 cases of CSOM underwent pre-operative CT scanning and their scans were compared with the operative findings. Our results show CT to be highly sensitive to the presence of soft tissue disease and bone erosion, moderately sensitive to the presence of lateral canal fistulae but less sensitive to the presence of small areas of exposed dura, ossicular continuity and facial canal dehiscence. Axial scans were better able to demonstrate the lateral canal but otherwise coronal scans were superior; ideally patients should be scanned in both planes. The principle value of CT in CSOM is its ability to demonstrate disease which is not clinically apparent.
ISSN:0022-2151
1748-5460
DOI:10.1017/S0022215100118031