[Evaluation of maximum intensity projection in HRCT in the diagnosis of the destruction of ossicular chain in chronic otitis media].

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To observe the ossicular chain structure with maximum intensity projection (MIP) and to evaluate the diagnostic value of it in the destruction of ossicular chain in chronic otitis media (COM). METHOD: Sixty-eight patients (136 ears) were scanned with HRCT. The original data was processed with MIP reconstruction technique. The images of the ossicular chain structure in normal ears were observed, while the images in suffering ears were compared with the findings in operation. RESULT: In normal ears, the ossicular chain structure was shown clearly by MIP, which can also display three-dimensional images of the ossicular chain. In the suffering ears of chronic otitis media of cholesteatoma type, granuloma type and simple type, MIP displayed the destruction of ossicular chain in 39 ears, 5 ears and 0 ear respectively, which was observed in 39 ears, 6 ears and 0 ears respectively in operation. CONCLUSION: MIP technique in HRCT can display the ossicular chain spatial structure clearly, which is very helpful to evaluate the destruction of ossicular chain in chronic otitis media (COM) and to make accurate operation plan.