Advances in Diffusion-Weighted Imaging: Non–Echo-Planar Versus Multishot Echo-Planar Techniques for Detecting Cholesteatoma

Abstract

Background: Cholesteatoma is a non-neoplastic but locally destructive lesion of the temporal bone that arises from keratinizing squamous epithelium within the middle ear. Its ability to erode ossicles, compromise hearing, and cause intracranial complications makes accurate and timely diagnosis critical. While computed tomography (CT) provides excellent delineation of bony anatomy, it lacks specificity in differentiating soft-tissue entities. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), particularly diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), has therefore become a cornerstone in the non-invasive diagnosis of suspected cholesteatoma.