Congenital Abnormalities ; diagnosis ; Diagnostic Imaging ; Ear, Inner ; abnormalities ; Humans

Ear, Inner/diagnostic imaging* ; Temporal Bone/diagnostic imaging* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods*

OBJECTIVE: To observe the inner ear structure with volume rendering (VR) reconstruction and to evaluate the role of high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) in congenital inner ear malformations. METHOD: HRCT scanning was performed in 10 patients (20 ears) without ear disease (control group) and 7 patients (11 ears) with inner ear malformations (IEM group) and the original data was processed with VR reconstruction. The inner ear osseous labyrinth structure in the images generated by these techniques was observed respectively in the normal ears and malformation ears. RESULT: The inner ear osseous labyrinth structure and the relationship was displayed clearly in VR imaging in the control group,meanwhile, characters and degree of malformed structure were also displayed clearly in the IEA group. Of seven patients (11 ears) with congenital inner ear malformations, the axial, MPR and VR images can display the site and degree in 9 ears. VR images were superior to the axial images in displaying the malformations in 2 ears with the small lateral semicircular canal malformations. The malformations included Mondini deformity (7 ears), vestibular and semicircular canal malformations (3 ears), vestibular aqueduct dilate (7 ears, of which 6 ears accompanied by other malformations) , the internal auditory canal malformation (2 ears, all accompanied by other malformations). CONCLUSION HRCT can display the normal structure of bone inner ear through high quality VR reconstructions. VR images can also display the site and degree of the malformations three-dimensionally and intuitively. HRCT is valuable in diagnosing the inner ear malformation.
Child ; Child, Preschool ; Ear, Inner ; abnormalities ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Male ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods

OBJECTIVE: To observe normal and abnormal findings of foramina within internal auditory canal (IAC) fundus with Virtual Endoscopy of multisection helical Computed Tomography. METHOD: CT scanning of temporal bone was undergone in 25 volunteers (50 ears) in the normal group, in 8 cases (13 ears) with foramina hypoplasia within IAC fundus which were shown on CT and MRI images. CT virtual endoscopy (CTVE) findings were observed in the normal and abnormal groups. The lower threshold value was 900-1200 HU, the upper value was 3,071 HU in CTVE definitions. RESULT: The shape and position of foramina within IAC fundus were shown on the CTVE image, 50 foramina within IAC fundus were shown in all normal cases. In abnormal group, 9 ears were shown as IAC fundus disorder and foramina absent, only 1 foramina was shown in 1 ear, 2 foramen in 4 ears, 3 foramen in 2 ears, 4 foramen in 2 ears; Abnormal shape of cochlear nerve foramina was seen in 4 ears. Other malformations were also shown, including IAC malformations in 3 ears and inner ear malformations in 8 ears. CONCLUSION CTVE is useful to show the shape and position of normal foramina and pathological changes in the patients with foramina hypoplasia within IAC fundus.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cochlear Nerve ; abnormalities ; diagnostic imaging ; Ear Canal ; abnormalities ; diagnostic imaging ; Ear, Inner ; abnormalities ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; congenital ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; methods ; Young Adult

Inner ear malformations are anomalies linking to development insults at different periods of embryogenesis,which are common causes of congenital sensorineural hearing loss. The evaluation of pediatric sensorineural hearing loss mostly depends on high-resolution computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, which can excellently depict the temporal bones and inner ear malformations.
Ear, Inner ; abnormalities ; diagnostic imaging ; embryology ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; congenital ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Temporal Bone ; abnormalities ; diagnostic imaging ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the feasibility and usability of multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) in congenital inner ear malformations.

METHODSFourty-four patients with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) were examined by a Somatom Sensation 16 (siemens, Germany) CT scanner with following parameters: 120 kV, 100 mAs, 0.75 mm collimation, 1 mm reconstruction increment, a pitch factor of 1 and a field of view of 100 mm. The axial images of interested ears were reconstructed with 0.1 mm reconstruction increment, and a field of view of 50 mm. The 3D reconstructions were done with volume rendering technique (VRT) on the workstation (3D Virtuoso and Wizard,siemens).

RESULTSTwenty-five patients were normal and 19 patients (36 ears) were congenital inner ear malformations among 44 patients scanned with MSCT. Of the malformations, all the axial, MPR and VRT images can display the site and degree in 33 ears. VRT images were superior to the axial images in displaying the malformations in 3 ears with the small lateral semicircular canal malformations. The malformations were Michel deformity (1 ear), common cavity deformity (3 ears), incomplete partition I (3 ears), incomplete partition II (Mondini deformity, 5 ears), vestibular and semicircular canal malformations( 14 ears), vestibular aqueduct dilate( 16 ears, of which 6 ears accompanied by other malformations), the internal auditory canal malformation(8 ears, all accompanied by other malformations).

CONCLUSIONMSCT allows a comprehensively assessing various congenital ear malformations through high quality MPR and VRT reconstructions. VRT images can display the site and degree of the malformations three-dimensionally and intuitionisticly. It is very useful to the cochlear implantation.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Congenital Abnormalities ; diagnostic imaging ; Ear, Inner ; abnormalities ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To describe the HRCT appearances of congenital inner ear malformations with cerebrospinal fluid leakage. METHOD: Conducted a retrospective case review. The subjects comprised 11 patients who were decisively confirmed by HRCT and exploratory tympanotomy. The result of temporal bone computed tomography scans (HRCT) were analyzed. RESULT: Inner ear malformations were classified into 4 types according to HRCT findings. There were 4 patients with cochlear aplasia, 2 patients with common cavity anomaly, 2 patients with IP-I anomaly, and 3 patients with IP- II anomaly. Eight patients had defects in the lamina cribrosa of the internal auditory canal. The development and aeration in the mastoid of involved ears was normal. Soft tissues were seen near the oval window in all involved ears. CONCLUSION HRCT image has an important value in the diagnosis and treatment of inner ear malformations with cerebrospinal fluid leakage.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Cerebrospinal Fluid Otorrhea ; diagnostic imaging ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Ear, Inner ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods ; Young Adult

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.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cochlear Implantation ; Cochlear Implants ; Ear, Inner ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Infant ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Period ; Tomography, Spiral Computed