Conductive hearing loss with a "dry middle ear cleft"-A comprehensive pictorial review with CT.

Conductive hearing loss (CHL) commonly results from middle ear fluid and inflammation (otitis media). Less commonly in patients with CHL, the middle ear cleft is well aerated or 'dry' with absence of soft tissue or fluid clinically and on imaging. There are numerous causes for this but they can be clinically challenging to diagnose. This pictorial review aims to illustrate and discuss the CT features of both common and less common causes of CHL in patients with a "dry middle ear cavity".