The diagnostic value of multiplanar reconstruction of multi-slice spiral CT in pediatric sensorineural hearing loss children induced by inner ear malformation

Abstract

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) of multi-slice spiral CT (MSCT) in inner ear malformation of children. Methods Retrospective analysis of 223 children in Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital suspected sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) clinically was performed between September 2010 and March 2014. All the patients received MSCT scan and 68 patients of inner ear malformation were detected. Deformed bony labyrinths of 68 patients and two cases of normal inner ear were reconstructed with the method of MPR on basis of raw data of MSCT images by one radiologist. In 68 patients of inner ear malformation, there were 33 males and 35 females (aged from 9 days to 16 years). Two senior radiologists evaluated the MSCT manifestations of 68 patients and than statistics analysis of classification for inner ear malformation were performed. Results Sixty-eight patients (5 patients with single ear malformation, 63 patients with bilateral ear malformation, 131 ears in total) with SNHL were clearly shown by MPR images. There were 33 ears of cochlear malformation, 39 ears of vestibular malformation, 42 ears of semicircular canal malformation, 18 ears of internal auditory canal malformation and 86 ears of vestibular aqueduct malformation. In 68 patients (131 ears), single constructive malformation was detected in 8 ears (6.1%), two or more kinds of combined malformations were detected in 123 ears (93.9%). Conclusions Most of these patients suffered from two or more kinds of combined malformations. MPR images can display the structures of cochlear, vestibule, semicircular canal, internal auditory canal and vestibular aqueduct. The application of this kind of post-processing technology is expected to improve the detection rate of inner ear malformation, especially the various structural malformations, which is conducive to the treatment decisions making and surgical planning. Key words: Ear, inner; Congenital abnormalities; Hearing loss, sensorineural; Tomography, spiral computed; Multiplanar reconstruction