Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:
Untill now, HRCT Temporal bone is preffered imaging modality for middle ear pathology prior to surgical exploration of ears with cholesteatoma. But it lacks specificity. The aim of this study is to understand the role of DWI (Diifusion Weighted Images) in detection, evaluation and diagnosis of primary and recurrent middle ear cholesteatoma and to correlate with intraoperative findings.
METHODS
A prospective study in which 30 patients who presented to the Department of  ENT and diagnosed to have cholesteatoma by clinical , otoscopic and audiometry  examination were subjected to HRCT temporal bone followed by DWI- MRI screening of the temporal bone and data was analyzed using standard statistical methods.
RESULTS
DWI- MRI is having a high sensitivity for identification of the disease at most of the sites within the temporal bone except for the incus , stapes and facial nerve canal region .
CONCLUSION
DWI- MRI scan acts as an excellent preoperative as well as postoperative  imaging modality for diagnosis of primary and recurrent middle ear cholesteatoma .