Assessment of middle ear disease in the dog: a comparison of diagnostic imaging modalities

OBJECTIVES: To compare radiography and ultrasound for the assessment of the tympanic bulla against computed tomography results. METHODS: Thirty-one dogs had dorsoventral, left and right lateral oblique and rostrocaudal open mouth radiographs compared with ultrasound images and computed tomography scans of the tympanic bullae. RESULTS: Radiography was superior to ultrasonography for the evaluation of the middle ear. However, computed tomography assessment was best predicted by a combination of radiographic and ultrasonographic findings. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: A combination of radiography and ultrasound can provide a more accurate assessment of the bulla than either of them alone. Ultrasound may have a role in the evaluation of middle ear disease in the dog. Results are operator dependent and not reproducible with current recording techniques.