[The use of computed tomography of the temporal bone for the early diagnosis and prognosis of otogenic intracranial complications].

The authors propose three-projection procedure of computed tomography (CT) of the temporal bone aimed at early diagnosis and prognosis of intracranial otogenic complications. CT was conducted in 62 patients with chronic purulent epitympanitis. Destruction of the tympanic bone walls and the antrum, inflammatory involvement of the meninges were seen on CT in 15 patients. Carious changes with the wall thinning occurring at the same sites, but without intracranial invasion were noted in 25 patients. The picture was confirmed at surgery. The proposed CT technique provides not only the image of early intracranial inflammation, but also helps predict intracranial complications.