Molteni G, et al. - Researchers examined pre-operative CT imaging for their predictive value in pediatric patients affected by cholesteatoma of the middle ear, comparing pre-operative CT findings to intra-operative features. In this retrospective study of 26 pediatric patients who underwent tympanoplasty for middle ear cholesteatoma at the Otorhinolaryngology Departments of Verona and Modena University Hospitals, pre-operative CT images were compared with intra-operative findings (assessed from video recording) focusing on the involvement of specific structures: ossicular chain, tegmen tympani, labyrinthine fistula, facial nerve, and temporal bone involvement. Evaluating 28 surgical procedures, they noted no statistically significant differences between CT images and intra-operatory findings regarding the selected parameters. Outcomes thereby suggest that for the assessment of these pediatric patients, pre-operative temporal bone CT scan is a valuable tool given the absence of statistically significant differences between radiologic and intra-operative findings. In children with cholesteatoma as part of a pre-surgical plan, performing temporal bone CT scan in routine is thus supported.