Role of High Resolution Computed Tomography Temporal Bone in Evaluation of Ear Pathologies in A Tertiary Care Hospital, Chennai.

Abstract

Introduction: Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media (CSOM) is characterized by persistent infection of middle ear cleft, which damages middle ear structures and mastoid. To maintain a higher hearing threshold, avoid treatment failure and recurrence, the surgical approach used is crucial. CSOM is treated with a range of standard surgical methods, which fall into two categories, canal wall up and down mastoidectomy. Advancement in radiological imaging like HRCT have helped in surgical approach, as well as identify anatomical variants and positions of structures during surgery.However, many surgeons keep it reserved in case of complications and not routine ear pathologies. Hence, this study was done, Aim and Objectives: To study external, middle and inner ear pathologies and to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of HRCT, preemptivedetection of complications in these patients and to study the normal anatomical variants and congenital anomalies of ear. Materials and Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted in the Department of Radiodiagnosis in a tertiary care hospital. A total of 75 cases who underwent HRCT of TB were included in the study. Study participants included Patients of all age groups and both genders. HRCT-TB was done using Siemens 16 slice machine. The helical mode of acquisition was used to minimize motion artifacts in the scans. Results: In our study, 33.3% participants belonged to 11 -20 years,
followed by 29.3% that were among 21 - 30 years, male predominance was seen 53.3% males and 46.7% females. 89.3% had otorrhoea,70.7% had hard of hearing, Based on otoscopic findings, 30.7% cases had Retraction pocket cholesteatoma, 80% cases
cholesteatoma. HRCT has had CSOM and with 20% 66.7%, 95.8%, sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing erosion of outer attic wall. Conclusion: HRCT–TB is an effective non invasive technique to identify the pathologies of ear and hence it can be used in routine
practice.