Role of computed tomography in unsafe chronic suppurative otitis media

Thirty Patients of Unsafe chronic suppurative otitis media were subjected to pre-operative CT scanning followed by surgical exploration of the middle ear and mastoid, and their scans were compared with the peroperative data. High resolution CT scanning has been advocated for evaluation of unsafe chronic suppurative otitis media as it is capable of delineating detail required to detect Labyrinthine fistulae, Facial canal erosion, Sinus and Dural plate erosion and Ossicular integrity. Our results showed CT scan to be highly sensitive for soft tissue density mass in the middle ear and mastoid. Dural plate exposure, Sinus plate erosion, Facial canal and Stapes integrity, moderately sensitive for Malleus and Incus integrity and least sensitive for Lateral canal fistulae. Both Axial and Coronal scans were done as many important structures are best seen in only one of these planes. The principal merit of CT scan of the Tomporal bone lies in its inherent ability to depict pathology which is not clinically evident.