Application of multiplanar reconstruction of spiral CT in the diagnosis and treatment of enlarged vestibular aqueducts

Abstract

Background: Multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) of High Resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT) makes it possible to achieve a clear view of inner ear structures. However, no agreement was reached on the standard measurement of inner ear.

Objectives: To establish standard inner ear measurements for building criteria for cochlear structure evaluation.

Material and Methods: HRCT scanning of the temporal bones of 82 cases with normal inner ear structures and 104 cases with an EVA and bilaterally sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) was performed. Three standard cochlear plane and one vestibular plane were reconstructed by MPR.

Results: Normative data of inner ear was measured and formulated. The most common malformation found in cases with EVA was incomplete partition type II (IP-II; 90.4%). The IP-II group had significantly greater modiolar height, cochlear aperture width, vestibular area, and vestibule width than did the control group. Different degrees of IP-II modiolar defects were observed using MPR.

Conclusions and Significance: Standard cochlear plane can help us to evaluate the cochlear structure. The MPR standard measurement of inner ear is clinically valuable for the diagnosis and cochlear implant of EVA.

Chinese abstract

背景：高分辨率计算机断层扫描（HRCT）的多平面重建（MPR）可使内耳结构清晰可见。然而, 还没有达成一致的内耳标准测量。

目的：建立标准内耳测量值, 为耳蜗结构评价提供依据。

材料与方法：对82例内耳结构正常的颞骨和104例EVA及双侧感音神经性听力损失（SNHL）的颞骨进行HRCT扫描。用MPR重建三个标准耳蜗平面和一个前庭平面。

结果：对内耳规范性数据进行了测量和编制。EVA患者最常见的畸形为不完全II型（IP-II；90.4%）。与对照组相比, IP-II组的蜗轴高度、耳蜗孔径宽度、前庭面积和前庭宽度均大得多。用MPR观察了不同程度的IP-II蜗轴缺陷。

结论与意义：标准耳蜗平面可以有助于评估耳蜗结构。内耳MPR标准测量对EVA的诊断和人工耳蜗植入有临床价值。

Keywords:

• Cochlear malformation
• enlarged vestibular aqueduct
• MPR
• Measurement
• spiral CT

Disclosure statement

The authors have no conflict of interest.

Acknowledgments

Michael Todd and Laura Kerr（Both Med-El）edited the English on a version of this manuscript. The English in this document has been checked by at least two professional editors, both native speakers of English. For a certificate, please see: http://www.textcheck.com/certificate/index/mI7mnL

Additional information

Funding

These investigations were supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (81230020, 81371096) and National key research and development project (2016YFC1000700, 2016YFC1000704) to P.D. Grants from National Natural Science Foundation of China (81570929) to X.G. Grants from National Natural Science Foundation of China (81200751) to S.S.H.