title: Preoperative evaluation of bone destruction using three-dimensional computed tomography in cholesteatoma.
abstract: This study investigated the usefulness of three-dimensional computed tomography (3DCT) in the evaluation of bony defects caused by cholesteatoma. Fifteen patients with chronic otitis media with cholesteatoma who showed bony destruction or suspicious destruction in two-dimensional CT were examined using 3DCT. The CT data were transferred to a workstation with a real-time image processor. We used three-dimensional reconstruction software enabling image processing. In all patients, 3DCT clearly delineated the destruction of bony structures by cholesteatoma. The 3DCT-generated images provided spatial relationships, which were not easily appreciated on two-dimensional CT. Intraoperative bony destruction findings correlated with 3DCT findings. From these results, 3DCT could be useful to evaluate the invasiveness of cholesteatoma to the cranial base. It could also be helpful in planning reconstruction during surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Wonkwang Medical School, Iksan, 570-711, South Korea. chul@wonkwang.ac.kr
authors.forename: Chul Ho
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Pa-Chun
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018424:Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003388:Cranial Fossa, Posterior / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D012886:Skull / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*