title: [Diagnostic value of high-resolution computed tomography imaging in congenital inner ear malformations].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the inner ear structure with volume rendering (VR) reconstruction and to evaluate the role of high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) in congenital inner ear malformations.
  
  
  METHODS
  HRCT scanning was performed in 10 patients (20 ears) without ear disease (control group) and 7 patients (11 ears) with inner ear malformations (IEM group) and the original data was processed with VR reconstruction. The inner ear osseous labyrinth structure in the images generated by these techniques was observed respectively in the normal ears and malformation ears.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The inner ear osseous labyrinth structure and the relationship was displayed clearly in VR imaging in the control group,meanwhile, characters and degree of malformed structure were also displayed clearly in the IEA group. Of seven patients (11 ears) with congenital inner ear malformations, the axial, MPR and VR images can display the site and degree in 9 ears. VR images were superior to the axial images in displaying the malformations in 2 ears with the small lateral semicircular canal malformations. The malformations included Mondini deformity (7 ears), vestibular and semicircular canal malformations (3 ears), vestibular aqueduct dilate (7 ears, of which 6 ears accompanied by other malformations) , the internal auditory canal malformation (2 ears, all accompanied by other malformations).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HRCT can display the normal structure of bone inner ear through high quality VR reconstructions. VR images can also display the site and degree of the malformations three-dimensionally and intuitively. HRCT is valuable in diagnosing the inner ear malformation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China.
authors.forename: Xiaowei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Yuanping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Jianji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Anting
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Fenfen
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dou
authors.forename: Zihe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*