Abstract:Objective To analyze the diagnostic value of computed tomography (CT) and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI-DWI) in patients with chronic cholesteatomatous otitis media. Methods A total of 88 patients with chronic otitis media were selected from the People’s Hospital of Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Perfecture from February 2019 to July 2022. All patients were examined by CT and MRI-DWI before operation. It was compared for the detection of chronic cholesteatomatous otitis media by CT and MRI-DWI. It was analyzed for the CT and MRI manifestations of patients with chronic cholesteatomatous otitis media. Using their pathological results as the gold standard, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of CT and MRI-DWI were compared for cholesteatoma lesions in patients with chronic cholesteatomatous otitis media. The consistency of MRI-DWI, CT and pathological results were analyzed. Results The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of CT were 51.7%, 83.1% and 72.7% respectively. The Kappa value of the consistency test between CT and surgical pathological results was 0.360 (P=0.001). The difference was statistically significant, but the consistency was low. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of MRI-DWI were 62.1%, 89.8% and 80.7% respectively. The Kappa value of the consistency test between the results of MRI-DWI and pathological results was 0.543(P<0.001), and there was a statistical difference in Kappa value with moderate consistency. Conclusion The diagnostic value of MRI-DWI is higher than that of CT, but CT provides better spatial localization for chronic cholesteatomatous otitis media. They are complementary technologies, and their combined application is helpful for preoperative evaluation of cholesteatoma and ossicular chain status. It will provide a certain guiding value for the surgeon to choose a better surgical method and approach.