title: The clinical value of temporal bone tomography in chronic otitis media.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
  
  
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preoperative assessment of COM with CT produce important guidance to evaluate the extent of the disease and to prevent possible intraoperative complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Medicine Faculty of Dumlupınar University, Kütahya, Turkey. ckucur@mynet.com
authors.forename: Cüneyt
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kucur
authors.forename: Eda
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Simşek
authors.forename: Ozan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kuduban
authors.forename: Irfan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Celebi
authors.forename: Ali Okan
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Gürsel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018424:Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008416:Mastoid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D055815:Young Adult