Computed Tomography (CT) of the temporal bones is a highly accurate imaging method that provides detailed visualization of the structures of the middle and inner ear, the auditory canal, the mastoid process, and adjacent anatomical structures. The examination is performed using layer-by-layer scanning with X-ray radiation.

When Is a CT Scan of the Temporal Bones Recommended?

Your physician may refer you for this examination if you have:

• Suspected chronic inflammatory processes (otitis, mastoiditis, cholesteatoma)
• Hearing loss of unclear origin (deafness, tinnitus)
• Trauma to the temporal region (fractures, consequences of injury)
• Congenital abnormalities of the auditory system
• Suspected tumors of the middle or inner ear
• Balance disorders and dizziness associated with vestibular pathology
• Bone defects caused by systemic diseases

What Can Be Detected with a CT Scan of the Temporal Bones?

• Fractures and cracks in the bones after trauma
• Congenital abnormalities (underdevelopment of the auditory ossicles, narrowing of the auditory canal)
• Chronic inflammatory lesions such as mastoiditis
• Destructive changes in bone structures
• Tumors and cysts
• Disorders of the vestibular system