Cerebral magnetic resonance with diffusion - HASTE sequence for clinical evaluation of cholesteatoma

Abstract

The diagnosis of ear cholesteatoma is done by clinical evaluation and its imaging study is performed mainly by computed tomography. In selected cases, it is necessary to consider a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the evaluation of cholesteatoma, usually using gadolinium T1 and T2 sequences. It has been reported that MRI diffusion techniques (DWI) have high specificity and sensitivity results for the diagnostic of cholesteatoma. These techniques can be mounted on non-echo planar fast sequences, such as the HASTE sequence (Half Fourier Single-Shot Turbo Spin Echo), which allows the acquisition of images without any magnetic susceptibility artifacts at the interface between bone and the temporal lobe. This paper presents a literature review on the topic, and four clinical cases evaluated in our hospital, where MRI was used with DWI - HASTE sequence. We conclude that MRI with DWI - HASTE sequence is a useful tool for making clinical decisions in the assessment of a selected group of patients with cholesteatoma.