POSTOPERATIVE IMAGING OF THE MULTICHANNEL COCHLEAR IMPLANT

To present the postoperative radiographic appearance of the multichann el cochlear implant and to suggest criteria for the radiographic evalu ation of postimplant patients. METHODS: One hundred forty-one patients , 73 female and 68 male, had multichannel cochlear implants inserted. One hundred thirty-five intraoperative radiographs, 31 postoperative r adiographic examinations, and 10 postoperative CT examinations were re trospectively reviewed. RESULTS: In 135 patients, a Stenver's or anter oposterior projection confirmed the normal placement of the implant by demonstrating the electrodes to be regularly spaced and gently curved within the first turn of the cochlea. The insertion depth was determi ned by counting the number of electrodes that projected medial to the cochlear promontory. In 5 patients in whom intracochlear placement of the electrode array could not be confirmed on plain radiographs, CT de monstrated the location of the electrode array. In 3 patients with pos toperative infections, CT either correctly identified or excluded the presence of a collection beneath the implant. CONCLUSION: Plain radiog raphs of the temporal bone are sufficient for the postoperative treatm ent of the majority of postimplant patients. CT should be performed wh en plain radiographs cannot adequately show the location of the electr ode array or if postoperative infection is suspected.