OBJECTIVETo evaluate the usefulness of multi-slice spiral CT (MSCT) in the post-operative assessment of cochlear implanted electrode.

METHODSTwenty-three cochlear implant recipients were enrolled in this study. All patients were examined with a SOMATOM Sensation 16-slice CT scanner (Siemens) using the following parameters: 120 kV, 100 mAs, 0. 75 mm collimation, 1 mm reconstruction slice thickness and increment, a pitch factor of 1, and a FOV of 100 mm. The axial images of interested ears were reconstructed with 0.1 mm increment and a FOV of 50 mm, and then volume rendering technique (VRT) reconstruction were done on the work station.

RESULTSThe electrode arrays were detected on axial CT images. Both inner ear and electrode array could be displayed on one image simultaneously. VRT provided an intuitionistic view of the relationship between electrode array and cochlea VRT showed the number of the electrode array in 20 patients implanted with Combi 40 + standard electrode array and demonstrated the shape, position, and insertion depth. The electrode array number determined by VRT was in accordance with the surgical findings in 18 patients, and was underestimated in two patients. In 3 patients with Combi 40 + compressed electrode array, only 4 to 5 electrodes arrays were clearly identified and others were not observed.

CONCLUSIONMSCT with VRT can provide useful three-dimensional information of the electrode array and indicate the exact relationship between electrode array and cochlea.