The development and improvement of cochlear auditory prostheses have radically reshaped the management of children and adults with significant hearing loss. Rapid evolution in the candidacy criteria and the technology itself has resulted in large numbers of individuals who have benefited from implantation. The significant inflammatory response that occurs with bacterial meningitis may result in labyrinthitis ossificans in up to 90% of patients with severe to profound hearing loss. It is imperative that patients either undergo close radiographic monitoring following resolution of meningitis or early cochlear implantation because labyrinthitis ossificans can start to occur as early as 2 weeks after the onset of bacterial meningitis and may lead to compact bone formation within 5 months, this dictates that cochlear implantation should be done as early as possible once deafness has been confirmed in audiologic tests. High-resolution CT (HRCT) has been used for many years as the study of choice for preoperative assessment of cochlear implant candidates. HRCT gives excellent information of the otic capsule, middle ear structures, and fallopian canal. MRI has been used as the primary modality for preoperative imaging in all cochlear implant candidates because of the limitation in HRCT. Key words: Role of MRI in predicting cochlear obstruction

Abstract

The development and improvement of cochlear auditory prostheses have radically reshaped the management of children and adults with significant hearing loss. Rapid evolution in the candidacy criteria and the technology itself has resulted in large numbers of individuals who have benefited from implantation. The significant inflammatory response that occurs with bacterial meningitis may result in labyrinthitisossificans in up to 90% of patients with severe to profound hearing loss. It is imperative that patients either undergo close radiographic monitoring following resolution of meningitis or early cochlear implantation because labyrinthitisossificans can start to occur as early as 2 weeks after the onset of bacterial meningitisand may lead to compact bone formation within 5 months, this dictates that cochlear implantation should be done as early as possible once deafness has been confirmed in audiologic tests. High-resolution CT (HRCT) has been used for many years as the study of choice for preoperative assessment of cochlear implant candidates.HRCT gives excellent information of the otic capsule, middle ear structures, and fallopian canal. MRI has been used as the primary modality for preoperative imaging in all cochlear implant candidates because of the limitation in HRCT.

Key words: Role of MRI in predicting cochlear obstruction