Advances in skull base imaging.

Despite being introduced in the 1970s and 1980s, CT and MRI continue to be the primary imaging modalities for the temporal bone and skull base. Although the general concepts and physics remain the same, the images obtained currently are far superior. Augmenting these traditional modalities are nuclear medicine imaging techniques, functional imaging, and the fusion of different techniques. Advances in these areas are expanding our options and illuminating pathology in unique ways. As basic physiologic processes are better understood, new opportunities for novel imaging techniques should arise.