Evaluation of ossicular lesions in middle ear diseases using multiplanar reconstructed CT images of the ossicles

Abstract

Multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) images of the ossicles are useful for evaluation of ossicular lesions, operation planning in ossiculoplasty, and estimation of postoperative hearing. MPR images of the ossicles allow us to evaluate ossicular lesions even in cases with soft shadows around the ossicles. Preoperative detailed information on ossicular lesions is important to ensure postoperative hearing in cases with conductive hearing loss, such as cholesteatoma, traumatic ossicular discontinuity, malformation of ossicles, and otosclerosis. MPR imaging of the stapes is very effective to detect small fenestral lesions in patients with otosclerosis. We also demonstrate the key aspects of the imaging method to obtain MPR images of ossicles as a standard tool in daily clinical practice.