Evaluation High-Resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT) Of Temporal Bone In Cholesteatoma Of Middle Ear In Comparison With Histopathological Findings: A Prospective Study

Abstract

Background: Cholesteatoma is relatively common and potentially dangerous disease of the ear. It is characterised by local destruction and osseous erosion leading to complications. Pre-operative assessment of middle ear cholesteatoma is a must for assessing the disease's location, extent, and complication. High resolution computed tomography (HRCT) is the imaging modality of choice for evaluation of middle ear structures and pathology. Therefore, in the present study we aimed to evaluate HRCT of temporal bone in cholesteatoma of middle ear cleft in comparison with histopathological results. Materials and Methods: This is a prospective study carried out on total of 30 patients who were undergoing HRCT of temporal bone for middle ear cleft pathology and found to have imaging evidence of chronic otomastoiditis on HRCT, subsequently undergoing surgery and histopathological validation. Results: The mean age of study subjects was found to be 23.97 ± 11.30 years. Majority of the study subjects were belonged to age group of 11-40 years (40%) with female predominance (53.3%) as compared to male (46.7%). Majority of the patients i.e., 60% showed signs of loss of aeration and sclerosis of mastoid air cells followed by soft tissue density lesions (43.3%), bony erosions (26.7%), and bony expansions (6.7%). Surgical findings and histopathological reports were correlated with pre-operative HRCT scans analyses with 95.88% accuracy. Conclusion: Compared to histopathological findings, HRCT offers a diagnostic capacity that is remarkably sensitive and specific in identifying cholesteatoma and the condition of the bone structures in the temporal bone