Background: Cochlear implantation meanwhile is a well established standard therapy in different forms of hearing loss in most ages. Clear depiction of the cochleovestibular anatomy and the cochlear nerve are very important for indication and effectiveness of cochlear implantation. Aim/objectives: Therefore the question raises whether Highfield MRI improves precision of preoperative diagnostic imaging especially along the the intrameatal portion of the vestibulocochlear nerve.
Methods: We analyzed the MRI scans of 216 temporal bones from 2007 until 2017. In all patients, CI was planned. We compared examinations using 1.5 and 3.0 T MR systems under the aspect of intracanalicular detection of the facial nerve, cochlear nerve, and the vestibular branches.
Results: 3 T-MRI was able to detect the cochlear nerve in all cases, a very important criterion for CI-indication. 3 T-MRI was also superior in the detection of facial nerve and especially the vestibular branches.
Conclusion and significance: The most effective preoperative examination of CI-candidates is the combination of 3 T MRI and multislice HR-CT of the temporal bone.
Keywords: Cochlear implant; MRI; inner ear; internal auditory canal; vestibulocochlear nerve.