[Computed tomography (CT) of the temporal bone in diagnosis of acquired cholesteatoma of the middle ear].

The analysis of 51 CTs of the temporal bone in patients aged from 2 to 74 years with otitis media purulenta chronica, cholesteatoma has established that cholesteatoma of different location and severity has specific CT-symptoms. A reliable diagnostic key to CT-diagnosis of cholesteatoma is attic deformation due to destruction of the lateral wall by a soft tissue lesion, extension of the aditus to the antrum, the presence of the cavity with sclerotic walls in the antromastoid area, carious changes in the auditory ossicles, medial or lateral shift of the ossicles. CT registers carious alterations in the middle ear cavity walls including the roof and labyrinthine wall of the tympanic cavity. This allows diagnosis of a labyrinthine fistula and intracranial complications of cholesteatoma. CT well visualizes spread of cholesteatoma on the top of the pyramid. Age-related features of cholesteatoma are studied.