Post-traumatic tinnitus, dizziness and deafness: impact of imaging studies

Tinnitus, hearing loss, and more rarely desiquilibrium are common sequela o f temporal bone trauma. Hemotympanum may cause a transient and immediate co nductive hearing loss. HRCT depicts ossicular dislocation (most frequently incus), producing a long-term conductive hearing loss. Labyrinthine trauma causing neurosensory hearing loss or/and acute vertigo may be depicted by M RI, showing an abnormal non-enhancing high signal T1 of the membranous laby rinthine fluid. MRI also may show low signal T1 and T2 fibrotic areas of th e membranous labyrinthe, especially of interest if cochlear implant surgery is planned. Perilymphatic fistulas are to be searched in case of fluctuant hearing loss. Both HRCT and MRI may show window damage: filling of the tym panic recess, rupture of the window membrane, intra-vestibular luxation of the stapes, or occasionnaly pneumolabyrinth.