Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) is currently routinely used as a low-radiation dose alternative for temporal bone (TB) imaging. High-resolution CT has long been the imaging modality of choice for patients with conductive/mixed hearing loss, as it accurately depicts the clinically and surgically important middle-ear structures and bony labyrinth. It is still used in many institutions instead of CBCT.

Tympanoplasty, routinely combined with mastoidectomy and OCR is a surgical procedure designed to reconstruct the sound transmission mechanism of the middle ear with the following objectives: limitation of disease, alteration of anatomy to prevent recurrent disease, and reconstruction of the middle ear to achieve serviceable and stable postoperative hearing.

For many radiologists, the anatomic complexity of the (TB) and the variety of surgical procedures that are performed in this area can be quite challenging in terms of evaluation at cross-sectional imaging.