[How best to present the radiological picture of the temporal bone today?]

Abstract

The detailed evaluation of anatomy and pathology of the temporal bone requires imaging modalities that are superior to plain x-ray films. Conventional polytomography has today largely been replaced by high-resolution CT. High-resolution CT provides excellent demonstration of the delicate bony structures and provides superior information about the soft tissues. The axial 1 mm scans of a complete temporal bone examination can be reformated in any number of planes. These reconstructions display the temporal bone in various projections. This theoretically well-founded procedure of individual processing has proven to be highly practical in more than 1000 examinations of the skull base. High-resolution CT with image reconstruction is the diagnostic method of choice for the evaluation of the skull base and especially the temporal bone, as the complex anatomy is best demonstrated by this technique. Six axial computed tomographic scans are demonstrated in detail. The special value of multiplanar reconstructions is illustrated by reconstructions in the coronal, sagittal and longitudinal plane.