Can C.T. detect labyrinthine fistulae pre-operatively?

The aim of the study was to undertake a controlled prospective evaluation of high resolution computerized tomography in the pre-operative diagnosis of labyrinthine fistulae. Fifty consecutive patients with chronic suppurative otitis media were scanned prior to surgery, using a Siemens DRI scanner. The radiological predictions were then compared with the surgical findings. Five patients had labyrinthine erosions and these were predicted in 4 out of the 5 (80%). The one erosion that escaped radiological detection was less than 2 mm in length. The study shows that high resolution computerized tomography is a highly accurate method for demonstrating pre-operatively all but the smallest fistulae.