Postsurgical Temporal Bone: A Pictorial Essay of Commonly Encountered Neuro-otologic Surgical Approaches and Postoperative Imaging Appearance

Interpreting imaging studies of the temporal bone after middle ear, mastoid, and internal auditory canal surgery can be challenging for neuroradiologists in training as well as for those in practice. We aimed to review the more commonly performed neuro-otologic surgical approaches and their indications as well as the expected postoperative findings on cross-sectional imaging of the temporal bone. A greater understanding of the radiologic postoperative appearance facilitates the recognition of complications and recurrent disease, when present, and enables the radiologist to provide expert interpretations to the surgeon.

Learning Objective: Describe the expected postoperative imaging appearance of the most commonly performed neuro-otologic surgical approaches.