Application of CT virtual endoscopy in ear ossicles lesion of chronic otitis media with cholesteatoma

Objective:To evaluate CT virtual endoscopy (CTVE) in diagnosing ear ossicles lesion of cholesteatoma type chronic otitis media.Methods:The manifestations of CTVE in 28 ears with cholesteatoma type chronic otitis media were correlated to the surgical findings.Results:The appearances of the ear ossicles erosions of cholesteatoma type chronic otitis media shown on CTVE were in accord with surgical findings.CTVE,however,was limited to show subtle changes of auditory ossicular chains.Conclusion:CTVE is a new noninvasive imaging method for observing auditory ossicular chains stereoscopically and in multiple directions.