The investigation of petro-mastoid tumours by high resolution CT.

Fifty-three patients with proven tumours of the petro-mastoid have been investigated by high-resolution computerized tomography. They comprised benign and malignant epithelial tumours; primary and secondary cholesteatomata; neurogenic and glomus tumours; meningiomas and secondary neoplasms. High resolution CT has the advantage of showing both bone erosion and the soft tissue mass of the tumour. This is important both for diagnosis and to show the extent of malignant disease in the petro-mastoid. The technique has become an integral part of the X-ray examination of these patients and in many respects has superseded other methods of investigation such as pluri-directional tomography and angiography.