Radiologic evaluation of conductive hearing loss

Abstract

In the presence of an intact tympanic membrane, conductive hearing loss may be due to a wide range of conditions, include congenital or acquired ossicular chain abnormalities, complications from chronic inflammation including cholesteatoma or tympanosclerosis, neoplasms or vascular lesions in the middle ear, bone dysplasia including Paget disease or otosclerosis, or third window lesions. Imaging with CT and MRI has evolved as a powerful tool in the diagnosis and surgical planning in the evaluation of conductive hearing loss. This article aims to discuss the imaging features of the most common causes of conductive hearing loss in a patient with an intact tympanic membrane.