Evaluation of Cochlear Nerve Scale with MRI in Patients with Idiopathic Unilateral Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the cochlear nerve diameter in patients with unilateral sensorineural hearing loss and to compare the diameter of the normal side with the hearing loss side.

Materials and Methods: A total of 36 patients with idiopathic unilateral sensorineural hearing loss were included in the study. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and audiogram were performed on all the patients. Both cochlear nerve diameters were measured on axial thin-section constructive interference in steady state (CISS) sequences.

Results: The patients comprised 16 males and 20 females with a mean age of 52.3±13.7 years. Hearing loss was in the right ear in 11 patients, and in the left ear in 25. The average cochlear nerve diameter on the side with hearing loss was 0.13 cm while it was 0.19 cm on the normal side. There was a statistically significant difference between the two sides (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: In patients with unilateral sensorineural hearing loss, MRI allows the assessment of the cochlear nerve with anatomic detail, and enables the exclusion of possible organic pathologies. Demonstration of decreased cochlear nerve diameter in idiopathic sensorineural hearing loss will contribute to elucidating the etiology of this disease in the future.

Keywords

• cochlear nerve,sensorineural hearing loss,magnetic resonance imaging

İdiyopatik Tek Taraflı Sensörinöral İşitme Kayıplı Hastalarda Kohlear Sinir Çapının Manyetik Rezonans Görüntüleme ile Değerlendirilmesi

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı, tek taraflı idiyopatik sensörinöral işitme kaybı bulunan hastalarda kohlear sinir çapını değerlendirmek ve normal taraf ile işitme kaybı bulunan tarafın çaplarını karşılaştırmaktır.

Gereç ve Yöntem: Tek taraflı idiyopatik sensörinöral işitme kaybı bulunan toplam 36 hasta çalışmaya dahil edildi. Tüm hastalara manyetik rezonans görüntüleme (MRG) ve saf ses odyometrisi uygulandı. Her iki taraftaki kohlear sinir çapları ince kesit aksiyal “constructive interference in steady state (CISS)” sekansından ölçüldü.

Bulgular: Hastaların 16’sı erkek 20’si kadındı ve yaş ortalamaları 52.3±13.7 idi. 11 hastada sağ tarafta, 25 hastada ise sol tarafta işitme kaybı vardı. Ortalama kohlear sinir çapı işitme kaybı olan tarafta 0,13 cm iken normal tarafta 0,19 cm idi. İki taraf arasında anlamlı farklılık mevcuttu (p < 0.001).

Sonuç: Tek taraflı sensörinöral işitme kaybı bulunan hastalarda MRG kohlear sinirin anatomik detaylarla incelenmesine olanak sağlar ve olası organik patolojilerin dışlanmasına yardımcı olur. Tek taraflı idiyopatik sensörinöral işitme kaybında kohlear sinir çapının daha az olduğunun gösterilmesi gelecekte hastalığın etiyolojisinin aydınlatılmasına katkı sağlayacaktır.

Keywords

• kohlear sinir,sensörinöral işitme kaybı,manyetik rezonans görüntüleme

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