[Current strategy for the radiological exploration of the ear]

CAT scan by thin slices offers the possibility of evaluation of the bone structures of the ear and their contents. The progressively increasing availability of the scanner should make access much more routine for study of the ear, with a concomitant reduction in tomographies, inadequate in a large number of circumstances. The 4 main indications are chronic otitis with cholesteatoma, trauma, acoustic neuromas and malformations. The respective performances of tomography and CAT scan in each of these situations are discussed and an investigation strategy is suggested.