Radiological study of the temporal bone in chronic otitis media: Prospective study of 50 cases

Aim: To assess radiological findings in Chronic otitis media (COM), its involvement in middle ear and adjacent structure and to compare with similar published data. The ability of the radiological investigations to detect the various pathological and anatomical variations were evaluated and compared with intraoperative findings. COM is a long standing inflammation of the middle ear cleft without reference to etiology or pathogenesis. Due to the strategic location of the tympanomastoid compartment, separated from the middle and posterior cranial fossa by the thinnest of bony partitions, otitis media has the potential for intracranial extension. Hence, it becomes very important to know the location and extent of the disease before proceeding to surgical treatment. Radiological examination of the temporal bone helps us to achieve this objective. The present work has been undertaken to study the role of radiological imaging of the temporal bone as a diagnostic modality in COM and its use in determining the lines of management as in the type of surgical intervention required. Materials and Methods: This is a prospective study in which total of 50 cases with COM were studied. Results: HRCT is reliable for all the parameters like scutum erosion, ossicular erosion, mastoid pneumatisation, low lying dura, anterior lying sigmoid, Korner's septum, cholesteatoma extension in the middle ear and mastoid, and presence of complications such as mastoiditis and mastoid abscess, mastoid cortex dehiscence, sigmoid sinus plate erosion, facial canal dehiscence, tegmen mastoideum erosion and labyrinthine fistula and intracranial complications with a P < 0.05 but not reliable for tegmen tympani erosion and posterior fossa dural plate erosion. Conclusion: HRCT is highly reliable and findings are in par with intraoperative findings in this study.