title: Clinical investigation of flat panel CT following middle ear reconstruction: a study of 107 patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  After middle ear reconstruction using partial or total ossicular replacement prostheses (PORP/TORP), an air-bone gap (ABG) may persist because of prosthesis displacement or malposition. So far, CT of the temporal bone has played the main role in the diagnosis of reasons for postoperative insufficient ABG improvement. Recent experimental and clinical studies have evaluated flat panel CT (fpCT) as an alternative imaging technique that provides images with high isovolumetric resolution, fewer metal-induced artefacts and lower irradiation doses.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and seven consecutive patients with chronic otitis media with or without cholesteatoma underwent reconstruction by PORP (n = 52) or TORP (n = 55). All subjects underwent preoperative and postoperative audiometric testing and postoperative fpCT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistical evaluation of all 107 patients as well as the sole sub-assembly groups (PORP or TORP) showed a highly significant correlation between hearing improvement and fpCT-determined prosthesis position. FpCT enables detailed postoperative information on patients with middle ear reconstruction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FpCT is a new imaging technique that provides immediate feedback on surgical results after reconstructive middle ear surgery. Specific parameters evaluated by fpCT may serve as a predictive tool for estimated postoperative hearing improvement. Therefore this imaging technique is suitable for postoperative quality control in reconstructive middle ear surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  • Flat panel CT offers advantages with regard to artefacts and radiation dose. • FpCT provides higher isovolumetric resolution of temporal bone and middle ear implants. • FpCT allows prediction of the postoperative hearing outcome in patients. • FpCT is an important tool for immediate postoperative quality control. • FpCT improves postoperative management of patients with complications following ossicular replacement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, Ruprecht Karls University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany, karim.zaoui@med.uni-heidelberg.de.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zaoui
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kromeier
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Neudert
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Beleites
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zahnert
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Laszig
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Offergeld
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016477:Artifacts; D001299:Audiometry; D057189:Checklist / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018424:Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009998:Ossicular Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019933:Ossicular Replacement / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011786:Quality Control; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014025:Titanium; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014025:Titanium