Objective: To investigate the accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
as a preoperative imaging technique for cochlear implant candidates.
Study Design: Retrospective, blinded.
Setting: Tertiary medical center.
Patients: 31 cochlear implant candidates with various causes of hearing los
s.
Intervention: Cochlear implant patients received preoperative high-resoluti
on temporal bone computed tomography (CT), and high-resolution T2-weighted
fast spin echo MRI (FSE-MRI). The images were read independently of each ot
her and in a blinded manner by two neuroradiologists. The imaging results w
ere also correlated with intraoperative findings.
Main Outcome Measures: Lack of agreement between the findings for either im
aging technique; also, lack of agreement between imaging findings and intra
operative findings.
Results: FSE-MRI is equal to CT imaging in the detection of abnormalities o
f cochlear patency, It is better than CT imaging in detecting cochlear dysp
lasia and large vestibular aqueducts, and in determining the presence of th
e cochlear nerve.
Conclusion: FSE-MRI is accurate in predicting inner ear anomalies and obstr
uction of the cochlear lumen. It also adds information not gathered from CT
imaging, such as the presence and size of the cochlear nerve.