Intracochlear signal in FIESTA-C and hearings of patients with cerebellopontine angle schwannoma

Abstract

Background Hearing loss in patients with cerebellopontine angle (CPA) schwannoma, is thought to be caused by the damage to the cochlea and the cochlear nerve. Aim This study aimed to examine the relationships between the intracochlear signal in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and hearing in patients with CPA schwannoma. Material and method In 79 patients with CPA schwannoma, we retrospectively examined the signal in the cochlea on the affected side was compared with that on the unaffected side to determine signal degradation in fast imaging reagents steady-state acquisition with cycle phases (FIESTA-C) MRI. For hearing evaluation, pure tone audiometry (PTA), speech audiometry, distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE), and auditory brainstem response (ABR) were used. For each parameter, we examined the differences between the groups with and without signal degradation. Results In the hearing test results, the I-wave latency of ABR was significantly longer in the group with signal degradation in FIESTA-C (1.84 ± 0.35 msec vs. 2.04 ± 0.37 msec, p = 0.048). There was no statistically significant difference in other tests. Conclusion The MRI signal changes in the cochlear were related to the I-wave latency of ABR and reflected cochlear function. Significance We suggested the cochlear signal changes in CPA schwannoma patients related the hearing.