Improved Visualization of Middle Ear Cholesteatoma with Computed Diffusion-weighted Imaging

Computed DWI (cDWI) is a mathematical technique that calculates arbitrary higher b value images from at least two different lower b values. In addition, the removal of high intensity noise with image processing on cDWI could improve cholesteatoma-background contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR). In the present study, noise reduction was performed by the cut-off values of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) less than 0 and 0.4 x 10(-3) s/mm(2). The cholesteatoma to non-cholesteatoma CNR was increased using a noise reduction algorithm for clinical setting.