title: CT two-dimensional reformation versus three-dimensional volume rendering with regard to surgical findings in the preoperative assessment of the ossicular chain in chronic suppurative otitis media.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the role of three-dimensional volume rendering (3DVR) in the preoperative assessment of the ossicular chain in chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM).
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-six patients with CSOM were included in this prospective study. Temporal bone was scanned with a 128-channel multidetector row CT and the axial data was transferred to the workstation for multiplanar reformation (MPR) and 3DVR reconstructions. Evaluation of the ossicular chain according to a three-point scoring system on two-dimensional reformation (2D) and 3DVR was performed independently by two radiologists. The evaluation results were compared with surgical findings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  2D showed over 89% accuracy in the assessment of segmental absence of the ossicular chain in CSOM, no matter how small the segmental size was. 3DVR was as accurate as 2D for the assessment of segmental absence. However, 3DVR was found to be more accurate than 2D in the evaluation of partial erosion of segments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both 3DVR and 2D are accurate and reliable for the assessment of the ossicular chain in CSOM. The inclusion of 3DVR images in the imaging protocol improves the accuracy of 2D in detecting ossicular erosion from CSOM.
authors: Department of Radiology, Navy General Hospital, 6# Fucheng Road, Beijing 100048, People's Republic of China. guoyong27@hotmail.com
authors: Yong
authors: Y
authors: Guo
authors: Yang
authors: Y
authors: Liu
authors: Qiao-Hui
authors: QH
authors: Lu
authors: Kui-Hong
authors: KH
authors: Zheng
authors: Li-Jing
authors: LJ
authors: Shi
authors: Qing-Jun
authors: QJ
authors: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D004429:Ear Ossicles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010014:Osteolysis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D010035:Otitis Media, Suppurative / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Middle ear; Multidetector computed tomography; Ossicles; Otitis media