RadteraCT Temporal Bone / IAC
CTNo contrastHead & Neck
Indications
- Conductive/mixed hearing loss, cholesteatoma, ossicular pathology
- Temporal bone trauma/fracture, otomastoiditis with complications
- Pre-cochlear implant evaluation, congenital anomalies; evaluation of IAC/cerebellopontine angle (bony detail)
Patient prep
- Usually non-contrast for bony detail
- Add IV contrast if infection complication, neoplasm, or vascular lesion (e.g., glomus) suspected
- Remove metal/earrings; supine, head neutral
Contrast
None / non-contrast
Technique
- Supine, head in holder, neutral; high-resolution helical acquisition
- Coverage from arcuate eminence/top of petrous bone through mastoid tip (focused on temporal bones)
- 120 kV; ultra-high-resolution bone kernel, smallest collimation (~0.5-0.6 mm)
- Reconstruct very thin (0.5-0.6 mm) axial in sharp bone algorithm, small FOV per side
- Direct/reformatted coronal; Poschl and Stenvers oblique reformats for SSC and ossicles as needed
Series / Sequences
| # | Series / Sequence | Plane | Thickness | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Axial bone (per side) | axial | 0.5-0.6 mm | Small FOV, ultra-sharp kernel, each temporal bone separately |
| 2 | Coronal reformat (per side) | coronal | 0.5-0.6 mm | Tegmen, ossicles, oval/round window |
| 3 | Poschl/Stenvers obliques | oblique | thin | Superior semicircular canal (dehiscence), ossicular chain |
Key points
- Reconstruct each temporal bone in a separate small FOV with ultra-high-resolution bone kernel
- Poschl plane evaluates superior semicircular canal dehiscence; Stenvers shows ossicles/SCC
- Non-contrast suffices for most bony indications; add contrast for tumor/infection/vascular
- Assess ossicular chain integrity, scutum erosion (cholesteatoma), tegmen, facial nerve canal
- Photon-counting/UHR CT improves inner-ear and ossicular detail where available
References
• ACR-ASNR-SPR Practice Parameter for CT of the Head and Neck (temporal bone)
• Radiopaedia: temporal bone CT ( link
• RadioGraphics: Temporal Bone Imaging
• Radiopaedia: temporal bone CT ( link
• RadioGraphics: Temporal Bone Imaging
Source: Researched — verify against your institution
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Reference template — verify and adapt to your scanner, vendor and institution before clinical use. Not a substitute for clinical judgment.