Advanced Imaging Techniques in Skull Base Osteomyelitis Due to Malignant Otitis Externa

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To give an up-to-date overview of the strengths and weaknesses of current imaging modalities in diagnosis and follow-up of skull base osteomyelitis (SBO). RECENT FINDINGS: CT and MRI are both used for anatomical imaging, and nuclear techniques aid in functional process imaging. Hybrid techniques PET-CT and PET-MRI are the newest modalities which combine imaging strengths. SUMMARY: No single modality is able to address the scope of SBO. A combination of functional and anatomical imaging is needed, in the case of newly suspected SBO we suggest the use of PET-MRI (T1, T2, T1-FS-GADO, DWI) and separate HRCT for diagnosis and follow-up.