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The clinical value of temporal bone tomography in chronic otitis media.

OBJECTIVES
This study aims to investigate the indications, the results and the limits of preoperative computed tomography (CT) scanning in chronic otitis media (COM), and to evaluate the clinical contribution of CT in determining the nature and complications of the disease.


PATIENTS AND METHODS
In this cross-sectional study, the results of preoperative CT with operative findings during mastoidectomy in 50 patients with COM (28 males, 22 females; mean age 34 years; range 16 to 69 years) between January 2008 and January 2010 were analyzed.


RESULTS
Computed tomography was highly sensitive to the presence of soft tissue, mastoid pneumatization, dural height, and temporal bone destruction with nearly 100% sensitivity. Its contribution to detecting lateral canal fistulas, facial canal dehiscence, tegmen tympani erosion, and ossicular integrity was limited.


CONCLUSION
Preoperative assessment of COM with CT produce important guidance to evaluate the extent of the disease and to prevent possible intraoperative complications.