Radiographic assessment of squamous cell carcinoma of the temporal bone

Squamous cell carcinoma of the temporal bone usually presents with tumor and edema occluding the external auditory canal. Accurate evaluation of the extent of such a tumor is therefore difficult. Assessment of these tumors and subsequent surgical management depends primarily on the preoperative radiographic findings. This paper discusses the evolution of the radiographic assessment of carcinomas of the ear canal. Certain cases have been selected to demonstrate the advantages and disadvantages of the radiographic studies in use. Mastoid x-ray views and petrous tomograms have been the standard methods of studying these lesions. Their interpretation, however, often exaggerates or underestimates the true extent of these carcinomas. Early and later generation computed tomography (CT) scans offered improvement in determining tumor involvement but still did not give the needed detail for surgical planning. High-resolution CT scanning of the petrous bones now offers the surgeon excellent views of these tumors. This paper places special emphasis on this technique and also discusses indications for operability.