Magnetic resonance with gadolinium DTPA for the investigation of temporal bone tumours.

The membranous labyrinth and 7th and 8th cranial nerves are well shown by magnetic resonance scanning but the lack of bone detail makes MRI secondary to CT for the investigation of lesions of the petrous temporal bone. Twenty-two intrinsic temporal bone tumours were examined by magnetic resonance in this study. Seven glomus tumours, one facial neuroma and one carcinoid tumor received intravenous gadolinium DTPA. All showed signal enhancement although the practical value of this enhancement was variable. The ability of MRI to demonstrate the jugular bulb separate from a glomus tumour confined to the middle ear, and signal enhancement of another middle ear tumour after partial removal are described, as well as the tissue characterization for discriminating between cholesteatoma and cholesterol granuloma for mass lesions in the petrous apex.