Is there a role for virtual otoscopy in the preoperative assessment of the ossicular chain in chronic suppurative otitis media? Comparison of HRCT and virtual otoscopy with surgical findings

The aim of this study was to assess the role of virtual otoscopy and 3D ossicular reconstruction in the preoperative assessment of the ossicles in chronic suppurative otitis media. Thirty three patients of chronic suppurative otitis media with conductive deafness (air-bone gap > 35 dB) were included in this prospective study. All patients underwent axial multidetector CT. The axial CT data set was utilized for multiplanar 2D reformations as well as virtual otoscopy (VO) and 3D reconstructions. The imaging findings on these two techniques were read independently by two radiologists with respect to different parts of the ossicular chain by using a three-point scoring system and were compared with surgical findings. Both imaging techniques had comparable accuracy for evaluation of larger ossicular parts. However, for evaluation of stapes superstructure, VO/3D images were more accurate (85.29%) than 2D images (76.97%). Assessment of the lenticular process and incudostapedial joint by HRCT and 2D reformatted images was not reliable (P > 0.1); however, significant correlation (P < 0.001) was present between VO/3D and the operative findings. Virtual otoscopy improves evaluation of the ossicular chain particularly that of smaller structures such as the lenticular process, incudostapedial joint and stapes superstructure which may influence decisions regarding planning of ossiculoplasty. (orig.)