Temporal bone and ear structure inflammation is commonly due to infection. It can be associated with a variety of complications and postinflammatory sequelae. Where the ear is easily inspected, clinical evaluation suffices. At the deeper aspect of the temporal bone, clinical evaluation is limited. High-resolution computed tomography scanning is suited for temporal bone imaging and is the modality of choice. MR imaging is useful to characterize disease, define the extent and spread of disease, or as a surveillance tool. MR imaging can be used with high-resolution computed tomography scanning to give a comprehensive evaluation of a complex disease process.