HIGH RESOLUTION CT AND MRI OF CONGENITAL TEMPORAL BONE LESIONS: CLINICAL AND SURGICAL APPLICATIONS

Abstract

The embryology of the ear must be known as many of the congenital ear malformations, classification of types of external, middle and inner ear anomalies present as a result C?f the arrest during various stages of embryology. The inner ear develops distinctly from the external and middle ear and, therefore anomalies of the inner ear are not necessarily associated with those of external and middle ears.

Both computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used to look at the temporal bone malformations but often both techniques are complementary. CT is preferred for the external and middle ear malformations while MR. is preferred when subtle changes in the membranous labyrinth or abnormalities of the nerves in the internal auditory canal must be visualized.

Diseases of the temporal bone should now be diagnosed by means of high-resolution multislice spiral computed tomography (MSCT) and I or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).