[Nuclear magnetic resonance tomography: a new imaging diagnostic procedure of the petrous bone and cerebellopontile angle].

Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMRI) is a new technique enabling three dimensional scanning of the petrous bone without ionizing radiation. Contrary to computer tomography NMRI enables visualization of the structures of the inner ear and the cerebello-pontine angle without masking by overprojecting bony structures. The resolution of inflammatory processes and tumors is excellent. NMRI is inferior to CT in demonstrating bony destruction, and is therefore not so effective in the evaluation of glomus tumours. The use of surface coils in combination with a special gradient-zoom-technique allows high resolution imaging. This and Gadolinium-DTPA for enhancement opens new perspectives in the diagnosis of small acoustic neuromas.