Diffusion-weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging as a Novel Imaging Modality in Assessing Treatment Response in Necrotizing Otitis Externa

Abstract

Baseline DW-MRI was carried out in all but one patient within 2 weeks of the initial diagnostic CT scan. Patients had between one and three further DW-MRI scans, at a mean interval of 4.4 months from the initial scan (range, 2-8 months). The decision to terminate or continue therapy correlated with ADC signal findings on DW-MRI in all cases. In comparison, conventional MRI sequences performed less well, as there was some degree of persistent residual soft tissue changes in all cases.