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 Table of Contents  
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Year : 2014  |  Volume : 30  |  Issue : 2  |  Page : 73-77

Limits of conventional temporal bone computed tomography in the management of cholesteatoma otitis media: Report of 96 cases


ENT Department, Military Hospital of Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia

Date of Submission11-Oct-2013
Date of Acceptance12-Oct-2013
Date of Web Publication27-May-2014

Correspondence Address:
Mardassi Ali
ENT Department, Service ORL, Military Hospital, Montfleury, 1008, Tunis
Tunisia
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Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None


DOI: 10.4103/1012-5574.133174

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  Abstract 

Introduction
Cholesteatoma is a dangerous chronic otitis media, with keratine accumulation causing bone erosion and invasive damages. Computed tomography (CT) is commonly indicated to evaluate the extension and the complications of cholesteatoma.
Materials and methods
In 96 patients with cholesteatoma otitis, preoperative CT data were compared with surgical findings using the sensitivity, specificity, and the predictive value of a CT-scan for anatomical structures.
Results
A CT scan offers an adequate anatomical conformation of the tympanomastoid cavities. The lysis of the tegmen (Se = 61%, Sp = 79%) and the erosion of the scutum (Se = 100%, Sp = 51%) are well visualized on coronal sections. CT is very sensitive to objective ossicular chain lysis (Se = 90%) but with a low specificity (Sp = 71%). The performance of CT in the facial canal erosion (Se = 45%, Sp = 78%) and in the labyrinthine fistulae (Se = 46%, Sp = 98%) was insufficient with the conventional scanning machine used.
Conclusion
A CT-scan should be a routine exam before cholesteatoma surgery, but with improved resolution, and therefore sensitivity, to characterize all middle ear structures and complications of the disease.

Keywords: Cholesteatoma, computed tomography, predictive value, sensitivity, specificity


How to cite this article:
Ali M, Nabil M, Safa K, Sameh M, Cyrine Z, Ghassen C, Rania BM, Khemaies A, Sonia B. Limits of conventional temporal bone computed tomography in the management of cholesteatoma otitis media: Report of 96 cases. Egypt J Otolaryngol 2014;30:73-7

How to cite this URL:
Ali M, Nabil M, Safa K, Sameh M, Cyrine Z, Ghassen C, Rania BM, Khemaies A, Sonia B. Limits of conventional temporal bone computed tomography in the management of cholesteatoma otitis media: Report of 96 cases. Egypt J Otolaryngol [serial online] 2014 [cited 2024 Mar 28];30:73-7. Available from: http://www.ejo.eg.net/text.asp?2014/30/2/73/133174


  Introduction Top


Cholesteatoma of the temporal bone usually occurs in the middle ear and can cause serious intrapetrous complications [1],[2]. This dangerous disease results from ingrowth of keratinizing squamous epithelium from the external to the middle ear [3]. Bone resorption is still the most characteristic feature of this chronic otitis media [4]. To date, temporal bone CT-scan is the preferred radiological exam to precisely determine, preoperatively, the extension of the disease and petrous bone complications [4],[5],[6].


  Materials and methods Top


We present a retrospective study, carried out over a period of 12 years (2001-2012), of 96 patients followed and treated for cholesteatomatous otitis media at the ENT Department of the Military Hospital of Tunis, Tunisia. All the patients benefited from a temporal bone CT-scan in the coronal and axial planes before surgery. In order to precisely determine the real performance and limits of CT-scan in the preoperative workup, we performed a correlation between the radiological data and the surgical findings using the sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp), positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) for many factors.

Scans were performed using the Siemens Somatom Plus 4 (Technical Prospects, Siemens Medical Parts Provider, Appleton, WI, USA). Parameters applied included 512 matrix, 200 field of view, 1 mm section thickness (contiguous slices), fast scan mode, beam hardening correction, 140 kV, and 94 mA exposure.


  Results Top


Our study included 35 men and 25 women. Their mean age was 35 years (12-64). Cholesteatoma was diagnosed through an otoscopic examination and all the patients benefited from a temporal bone CT-scan before surgery to evaluate the extension of the disease and to look for intrapetrous or extrapetrous complications. The main abnormalities found were ossicular lysis (81%), tegmen tympani erosion (28%), scutum lysis (61%), labyrinthine fistula (8%), and  Fallopian canal More Details erosion (27%).

Scutum erosion is valuable in the diagnosis of attic cholesteatoma. It was used by the radiologist in 59 cases and verified peroperatively in 24 cases [Figure 1]. CT-scan has an excellent sensitivity to determine this complication (100%), but with a low specificity (51%) as scutum lysis can occur in simple chronic otitis media [Table 1].
Figure 1:

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Table 1: Scutum lysis

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Preoperative CT-scan also provides information about temporal bone anatomic conditions and variants that may incur additional surgical risks. Superficial or prolapsed sigmoid sinus and/or meningeal dehiscence are considered anatomic difficulties (AD) for the surgical approach. The sensitivity of CT-scan in the detection of these abnormalities is 83% [Table 2]. This sensitivity is lower for tegmen tympani lysis [Figure 2] and [Table 3].
Figure 2:

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Table 2: Anatomic difficulties

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Table 3: Lysis of tegmen tympani

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CT-scan objectived an ossicular chain lysis (OCL) in 81% of the cases [Figure 3]. The incus, the stapes, and the malleus were involved, respectively, in 91, 82, and 75% of the cases. The sensitivity of CT-scans were sensitive for visualization of OCL (Se = 90%). However, as ossicular lysis is frequent even in simple chronic otitis media, the specificity of CT-scan is relatively low (71%) [Table 4].
Figure 3:

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Table 4: Ossicular chain lysis

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The fallopian canal was eroded in 23% of our patients [Figure 4]. It seems that CT-scan is not very sensitive in showing this complication (Se = 45%). Yet, when used by the radiologist preoperatively, Fallopian canal erosion is often confirmed during surgery (Sp = 78%) [Table 5].
Figure 4:

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Table 5: Fallopian canal erosion

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Finally, we found, during surgery, a lysis of the lateral semicircular canal (LSCC) in 13% of our patients [Figure 5]. CT-scan showed this complication in only eight patients (Se = 46%), but with an excellent specificity (98%) [Table 6].
Figure 5:

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Table 6: LSCC lysis

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  Discussion Top


Abnormal extension of the keratinizing epithelium of the external acoustic meatus into the middle ear cavity through the tympanic membrane is considered to be the main cause of middle ear cholesteatoma [1],[5]. This dangerous disease can also be because of a squamous epithelium trapped within the middle ear during embryogenesis. Resulting in congenital cholesteatoma [7]. Ingrowths of cholesteatoma result in erosion of the surrounding bony structures. Bony erosion is related to the combined effects of the cholesteatoma mass and collagenase activity [3]. The possible consequences of such an osteolysis are complications including ossicular destruction, automastoidectomy, meningitis, dural sinus thrombosis, facial nerve palsy, labyrinthine fistula, and extension to the petrous bone [5],[6]. For several years, imaging of the ear has been a routine test in the preoperative workup of the disease and most recent reports recommend a CT-scan as part of the preoperative workup in middle ear cholesteatoma [3],[8],[9]. CT-scan imaging allows a comprehensive preoperative evaluation of the anatomic variations and bone details of the middle ear as well as the ossicular chain and soft tissue [10],[11],[12].

In our study, we attempted to precisely determine the performance of CT-scan in different temporal bone variations and complications in the presence of cholesteatoma. Thus, a correlation was performed between preoperative radiological data and surgical findings using four statistical tests: sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp), PPV, and NPV.

The most frequent radiological signs of cholesteatoma are middle ear mass and bony lysis [1].

Our comparison of radiological and surgical findings, it was found that CT-scan yields, overall, an adequate anatomical confirmation of the tympanomastoid cavities.

For the lysis of the tegmen tympani, which is a thin bony roof, radiological data seem imprecise, requiring thinner CT-scan slices on coronal sections [1],[4],[13].

In contrast, the lysis of the scutum, which represents a thick bony relief, is well visualized in frontal CT-scan images [4],[14].

For middle ear content, CT seems to be the examination of choice for identifying areas of osteolysis and screening for the main complications associated with cholesteatoma [8]. The predictive value of CT-scan depends on the anatomic structure studied.

Even if OCL is frequent in cholesteatoma otitis, it remains nonspecific and can be found in other forms of chronic otitis media [1],[4]. Fine structures of the auditory ossicles could be delineated clearly in the images reconstructed using the multislice scan CT, which allows a slice thickness of 0.5 mm [15]. High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) is most valuable for the detection of early erosive changes in the ossicles, particularly in the smaller parts such as the incudostapedial junction [13].

The erosion of the Fallopian canal along its pathway through the temporal bone, especially of the tympanic segment of the canal, may be difficult to interpret [8]. In our study, the sensitivity of CT-scan to objective a Fallopian canal erosion was 42%. High-resolution inframillimetric CT slices and complete immobilization of the head of the patient during radiological exploration are necessary for an accurate and complete study of the facial nerve canal [11],[12],[14]. To clearly visualize this part of the canal, coronal images must be analyzed meticulously [12].

Labyrinthine fistulae because of LSCC erosion complicate cholesteatoma in 5-20% of the cases [2],[16],[17],[18]. This canal is the most frequently eroded because of its close proximity to the medial wall of the attic anatomically.

The bony lysis of the LSCC can be either cortical or total and necessitates the combination of coronal and axial inframillimetric slices to appreciate it to avoid a false impression of a labyrinthine fistula [8],[13],[19],[20]. A comparative study with the controlateral temporal bone may be helpful to avoid false-positive results [11],[12],[21]. For our patients, the sensitivity of CT-scan was 50% but with a good PPV (80%).

For the assessment of all these variations and abnormalities, an adequate technique and a good radiologic interpretation of temporal bone CT-scan are needed.

In our study, we used a conventional CT-scan with 1 mm section thickness. However, the middle ear structures are very small and fine; thus, a HRCT with inframillimetric slices may offer a best topographic study [22]. HRCT has clearly shown its superiority in the evaluation of the temporal bone, particularly utilizing thin-section, high-resolution techniques. HRCT provides a more precise definition of the anatomic extent of the disease of the middle ear and the relationship of these cholesteatoma masses with the contiguous structures [13].

Conventional CT-scans also have other limitations and usually cannot differentiate a cholesteatoma from granulation tissue, pus, and fluid, which are present in chronic otitis media without the presence of a cholesteatoma [23].

In some cases, CT assessment should be supplemented by MRI when meningocephalic infection, intracranial extension, or sigmoid sinus thrombosis is suspected. Depending on the clinical presentation, venous angio-MRI or venous angio-CT may be used to detect sigmoid sinus thrombosis [24]. In addition, a number of articles in the literature suggest that diffusion-weighted MRI may be able to distinguish between recurrent or persistent middle ear cholesteatoma and to differentiate scar tissue from granulation tissue [25],[26].


  Conclusion Top


CT scanning must be systematic in the preoperative workup of cholesteatomatous otitis media. By improving its resolution, CT may offer an excellent topographic study of the tympanomastoid cavities and the middle ear structures.


  Acknowledgements Top


Conflicts of interest

None declared.



 
  References Top

1.Ayache D, Schmerber S, Lavieille JP, Roger G, Gratacap B. Middle ear cholesteatoma. Ann Otolaryngol Chir Cervicofac 2006; 123:120-37.  Back to cited text no. 1
    
2. Robert Y, Dubrulle F, Carcasset S, Hennequin C, Gaillandre L, Vanecloo FM, Lemaitre L. Petrous bone extension of middle-ear acquired cholesteatoma. Acta Radiol 1996; 37:166-170.  Back to cited text no. 2
    
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4. Zylberberg F, Williams MT, Ayache D, Piekarski JD. CT-scan of middle ear cholesteatoma. Feuillets Radiol 2000; 40:48-57.  Back to cited text no. 4
    
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    Figures

  [Figure 1], [Figure 2], [Figure 3], [Figure 4], [Figure 5]
 
 
    Tables

  [Table 1], [Table 2], [Table 3], [Table 4], [Table 5], [Table 6]



 

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