title: Opacification of the middle ear and mastoid: imaging findings and clues to differential diagnosis.
abstract: Opacification of the middle ear and mastoid represents a spectrum of inflammatory, neoplastic, vascular, fibro-osseous, and traumatic changes. This article reviews the most important clinical and pathological characteristics, emphasizing CT and MRI findings. Knowledge of subtle patterns of middle ear and mastoid opacification at CT and MRI provide guidance towards the correct diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Middlemore Hospital Auckland, Hospital Road, Otahuhu, Auckland 1640, New Zealand; Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: A C C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria. Electronic address: stefan.nemec@meduniwien.ac.at.
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Nemec
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004427:Ear Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008416:Mastoid / Q000473:pathology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed