Tomography and xerotomography after reconstructive middle ear surgery for cholesteatoma

In order to adequately visualize the ossicles and other fine structures in the middle ear, sophisticated radiological methods are essential. The temporal bone has been studied with hypocycloidal tomography using conventional films and xerotomography in 60 patients with cholesteatoma. In 53 of the patients xerotomography gave good results while conventional tomography gave good results in only 38 patients. The superiority of xerotomography to conventional radiological methods is stressed. The only drawback is the high radiation dose to the patient.