VALUE OF COMPUTED-TOMOGRAPHY IN PATIENTS WITH PERSISTENT VERTIGO AFTER STAPES SURGERY

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES. The value of computed tomography was evaluat ed in 14 patients with persistent vertigo after otosclerosis operation . METHODS. High-resolution computed tomography was performed with 1-mm slice thickness and table feed in the axial and coronal planes. RESUL TS. Computed tomography scans showed in 13 case findings that related to symptoms. An air bubble at the end of the prosthesis as a new, indi rect sign of a perilymphatic fistula was found in 6 cases. An incorrec t position of the stapes prostheses was diagnosed in 7 patients. One p atient had recurrence of otosclerosis, and two others developed scarri ng around the prosthesis. In 1 case, an incus necrosis was found. Some patients showed two signs simultaneously. The computed tomography res ults were confirmed by retympanotomy in 12 cases, CONCLUSIONS. Compute d tomography proved to be a valuable method in the diagnosis of persis tent vertigo after otosclerosis operation. The indication for a repeat operation was facilitated by the use of computed tomography.