Importance of a dedicated neuroradiologist in reporting high-resolution computed tomography for otosclerosis: a retrospective comparison study of 40 patients

Abstract

The use of high-resolution computed tomography for suspected otosclerosis is helpful for diagnosis, disease staging, obtaining informed consent, surgical planning and prognosis. This study suggests that radiological detection of otosclerotic changes by high-resolution computed tomography of the temporal bone is significantly better when performed by a dedicated neuroradiologist than by a general radiologist. Use of a standardised temporal bone computed tomography protocol is recommended to provide consistently high-quality images for maximising disease detection.

Sensitivity of High-Resolution Computed Tomography in Otosclerosis Patients undergoing Primary Stapedotomy

“…In their study, the neuroradiologist arrived at the diagnosis in 100% of cases, the general radiologists in 10%, a statistically significant difference. 10 Our comparison of local radiologists with our collaborating neuroradiologist is more heterogeneous as some locally obtained studies may have been read by a neuroradiologist. While the local radiologists were likely mostly general radiologists, this information was not evaluated based on the study design.…”

“…7,8,[14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22] Most clinical studies report high specificity of CT in otosclerosis approaching 95% to 100%. 10,14,19,21,23 One cadaveric temporal bone study comparing CT and histopathologic findings of 10 temporal bones with otosclerosis and 36 controls identified three false positive cases (8%) in which connective tissue and blood vessels anterior to the oval window was falsely identified on HRCT as otospongiosis. 22…”

Diagnostic Protocol for Detecting Otosclerosis on High-Resolution Temporal Bone CT

“…Preoperative HRCTs can also be used to rule out other middle ear abnormalities, to aid in surgical planning and preoperative counseling, and to predict difficult surgeries. 3,5,8,12…”

“…2,8,10 It is helpful for institutions to have a neuroradiologist who specializes in head and neck imaging as 1 prior mentioned study showed. 8…”

The diagnostics and surgical treatment of the patients presenting with otosclerosis in the Primorye Territory

“…Отбор пациентов включал данные анамнеза, традиционный осмотр ЛОР-органов, исследование слуха с помощью камертонов (пробы Вебера, Ринне, Федеричи, Желле), отомикроскопию, тональную пороговую аудиометрию, импедансомертию. С 2015 г. всем пациентам выполнялась спиральная компьютерная томография височной кости (СКТВК) с целью дифференциального диагноза с фиксацией наковальни, аномалиями развития слуховых косточек, позиции лицевого нерва, синдромом Ван-дер-Хуве, дегисценцией верхнего полукружного канала, болезнью Педжета, наличия очагов отосклероза, их локализации, распространенности и активности процесса [9,10]. Уточнение анатомо-топографических особенностей окна преддверия проводилось в соответствии с критериями, предложенными И.В.…”