Image quality and dose assessment in inner ear computed tomography imaging with a flat panel-based system.

Purpose: The temporal bone includes several important structures of the human body, some of which are smaller than 1 mm. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the feasibility of a computed tomography system capable of providing 3-dimensional images of the inner ear with low doses and a spatial resolution adequate for providing the surgeon with good guidance.

Methods: A laboratory prototype, based on a CMOS Hamamatsu model C10900D detector, was set up, and several tomographic tests were carried out on 2 dedicated phantoms.