Neeraj Sethi, Amy Rafferty and Ratnamala Kayarkar
How Reliable is Preoperative Temporal Bone CT in Mastoid Surgery?
Objective: To evaluate the reliability of high resolution computerized tomography (HRCT) of the temporal bone in assessing local complications of active squamous chronic otitis media (cholesteatoma) preoperatively.
Methods: 156 patients having undergone mastoid surgery were identified. Prospectively collected intraoperative information was compared to preoperative findings for four specific parameters.
Results: Relatively low sensitivities for all four parameters were found ranging from 11% for facial nerve canal dehiscence to 35% for ossicular chain erosion.
Conclusions: This study emphasises the need for surgeons not to be misled by preoperative HRCT. The role of imaging in anticipating complications is by no means definitive.
English 
Chinese 
Russian 
German 
French 
Japanese 
Portuguese 
Hindi