Postoperative imaging of the internal auditory canal : Visualization of active auditory implants.

Abstract

Assessment of the internal auditory canal (IAC) and cochlea is of central importance in neurotology. The artefacts and visibility of active auditory implants on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) vary because of their specific magnetic components. Knowledge of the size of MRI artefacts and the options for handling them is important for the auditory rehabilitation of specific diseases (e. g., vestibular schwannoma). The current article is a literature review. MRI assessment of the IAC and cochlea after surgical placement of an active auditory implant is feasible only with apercutaneous bone-anchored hearing aid (BAHA, Ponto). When specific factors (implant position and MRI sequence) are taken into consideration, these structures can be visualized even after cochlear implantation. Complications such as magnet dislocation and pain may occur. The possibility of assessing the IAC and cochlea by MRI is an important aspect that needs to be taken into consideration when planning the auditory rehabilitation of patients after acoustic neuroma surgery.