title: Imaging of the opacified middle ear.
abstract: Middle ear opacification on imaging studies performed in a non-traumatic setting mostly reflects chronic inflammatory/infectious disease. In some of these patients an underlying cholesteatoma will be found. High-resolution computed tomography examinations and magnetic resonance imaging are often used in the work-out of the disease. High-resolution computed tomography of the opacified middle ear serves to describe the status of the ossicular chain, and its suspensory apparatus, as well as the status of the tympanic and mastoid wall. When ossicular erosions are visualized, the probability of a present cholesteatoma is about 90%. Whereas high-resolution computed tomography is not able to differentiate cholesteatoma from other types of opacification, magnetic resonance imaging is. The combined use of delayed post-Gd T1-weighted images and non-EPI based DWI seems to be the actual best option on this matter.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, AZ Sint-Lucas Gent, Groenebriel 1, 9000 Gent, Belgium. marc.lemmerling@azstlucas.be
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Lemmerling
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: De Foer
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: VandeVyver
authors.forename: J-P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Vercruysse
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Verstraete
mesh_terms: D018424:Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003287:Contrast Media; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008416:Mastoid / Q000473:pathology; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000175:diagnosis; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media