Radiology, Vol 148, 733-737, Copyright © 1983 by Radiological Society of North America
Cholesteatomas of the temporal bone: role of computed tomography
DW Johnson, RL Voorhees, RB Lufkin, W Hanafee and R Canalis
Computed tomography (CT) of the temporal bone was performed in 64 patients
thought to have a cholesteatoma of the middle ear. Twenty had not had
surgery before, while 44 had been operated on; special consideration was
given to 21 patients who were scanned immediately before a second operation
and had confirmation of the CT findings. Inflammatory disease without
cholesteatoma was characterized by absence of erosion of the otic capsule
or ossicular chain. Sharply circumscribed cholesteatomas were easily
diagnosed by CT. When they were combined with scarring, granulation tissue,
or postsurgical changes, the resulting soft-tissue masses were
indistinguishable, although cholesteatoma may be suspected if there is
evidence of progressive bone erosion about the middle ear. CT can play a
major role in postoperative follow-up by confirming that the ear is normal
and demonstrating displacement of ossicular grafts or prostheses.
