title: Quality assessment of 3D-CTVR, MPR and section plane techniques in ossicular chain reconstruction in middle ear cholesteatoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the quality of three-dimensional volume rendered computer tomography (3D-CTVR), multi-planar reformation (MPR) and CT section plane in the fine diagnosis of ossicular chain in middle ear cholesteatoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty patients with middle ear cholesteatoma were selected in this retrospective study. All cases underwent pre-operative CT scan. The respective radiologic reports of the ossicles status via three protocols were then compared to surgical findings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Quality assessment of these three protocols in the fine diagnosis of fine ossicles buried inside the soft tissue showed that both CTVR and MPR are more superior to conventional section plane, especially CTVR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The uses of CTVR and MPR, in conjunction with conventional section plane, are better able to show where the true and fine ossicular chain in the cholesteatoma mass is. In the final analysis, we believe that the use of CTVR and MPR techniques can have profound contributive value in future clinical work.
authors.affiliation: Center of Otolaryngology, PLA Navy General Hospital, Beijing 100048, China. Electronic address: liuyangdoc@sina.com.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Center of Otolaryngology, PLA Navy General Hospital, Beijing 100048, China. Electronic address: JJsun85@sina.com.
authors.forename: Jianjun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, PLA Navy General Hospital, Beijing 100048, China.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, PLA Navy General Hospital, Beijing 100048, China.
authors.forename: Qiaohui
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Center of Otolaryngology, PLA Navy General Hospital, Beijing 100048, China.
authors.forename: Danheng
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Center of Otolaryngology, PLA Navy General Hospital, Beijing 100048, China.
authors.forename: Yongsheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018424:Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004429:Ear Ossicles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cholesteatoma; Multi-planar reformation; Ossicular chain; Section plane; Volume rendered computer tomography