Ap. Bath et al., PEDIATRIC COCHLEAR IMPLANTATION - HOW RELIABLE IS COMPUTED-TOMOGRAPHYIN ASSESSING COCHLEAR PATENCY, Clinical otolaryngology and allied sciences, 18(6), 1993, pp. 475-479
This study investigates the accuracy of pre-operative high resolution
computed tomographic (CT) scans in predicting the patency of the cochl
ea in children undergoing cochlear implantation. The first 26 children
on the Nottingham Paediatric Cochlear Implant Programme were reviewed
. CT scans were performed utilizing 1 mm contiguous sections and these
were then assessed by a neuroradiologist. In patients who had normal
inner ears on CT a high degree of accuracy in predicting a patent coch
lear was achieved (87%). However, in 15% of cases the degree of ossifi
cation was significantly under-estimated causing major difficulties at
the time of surgery. Although high resolution CT offers great clarity
and fine detail, it has its limitations. Further information may be p
rovided by magnetic resonance imaging.