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Bionic ear imaging

Imaging dell’orecchio bionico

  • Head and Neck Radiology Radiologia Del Capo e Del Collo
  • Published:
La radiologia medica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to illustrate the different imaging features of middle and inner ear implants, brainstem implants and inferior colliculus implants.

Materials and methods

We retrospectively reviewed the computed tomography (CT) images of 468 patients with congenital or acquired transmissive or neurosensory hearing loss who underwent surgery. The implants examined were: 22 Vibrant Soundbridge implants, 5 at the long limb of the incus and 17 at the round window, 350 cochlear implants, 95 brainstem implants and 1 implant at the inferior colliculus. All patients underwent a postoperative CT scan (single or multislice scanner) and/or a Dentomaxillofacial cone-beam CT scan (CBCT) (axial and multiplanar reconstruction), and/or a plain-film radiography to visualise the correct position of the implant.

Results

The CBCT scan depicts Vibrant site of implant better than plain-film radiography, with a lower radiation dose compared to CT. For cochlear implants, a single plain radiograph in the Stenvers projection can directly visualise the electrodes in the cochlea. All patients with brainstem or inferior colliculus implants underwent postoperative CT to exclude complications and the assess correct implantation, but the follow-up of these implants can be performed by plain radiography alone.

Conclusions

CT and CBCT scans are reliable and relatively fast methods for precisely determining the location of middle ear implants. CBCT is preferable to CT because of the lower radiation dose administered; a single plain-film radiograph is enough to visualise and follow-up cochlear, brainstem and inferior colliculus implants.

Riassunto

Obiettivo

Illustrare le caratteristiche delle diverse tecniche impiegate nell’imaging degli impianti protesici all’orecchio medio e interno, degli impianti al tronco encefalico ed al collicolo inferiore.

Materiali e metodi

Sono state analizzate retrospettivamente le immagini di tomografia computerizzata (TC) di 468 pazienti affetti da ipoacusia congenita o acquisita trasmissiva o neurosensoriale, sottoposti a intervento chirurgico protesico. I modelli di impianto esaminati sono stati: 22 Vibrant, di cui 5 all’apofisi lunga dell’incudine e 17 alla finestra rotonda, 350 impianti cocleari, 95 impianti al tronco e 1 al collicolo inferiore. Tutti i pazienti hanno eseguito nel postoperatorio una indagine TC (scanner a singolo o multistrato) e/o una TC dentale a raggio conico (TCD) (ricostruzioni assiali e multiplanari), e/o una radiografia convenzionale, al fine di visualizzare la corretta posizione dell’impianto.

Risultati

Le scansioni TCD hanno identificato meglio il sito di impianto del Vibrant rispetto alla radiografia convenzionale: la visualizzazione è uguale a quella della TC ma la dose radiante è inferiore. Per gli impianti cocleari, la radiografia in proiezione secondo Stenvers ha consentito di visualizzare direttamente gli elettrodi nella coclea in tutti i casi. Tutti i pazienti con impianto al tronco o al collicolo inferiore sono stati sottoposti a indagine TC nell’immediato postoperatorio al fine di escludere complicanze e per stimare il corretto posizionamento della protesi, ma il follow-up di queste ultime può essere eseguito con la sola radiografia del cranio.

Conclusioni

La TC e la TCD si sono rivelate metodiche affidabili e relativamente veloci per determinare con precisione la posizione dell’impianto all’orecchio medio. La TCD è preferibile alla TC per la minor dose radiante somministrata; la sola radiografia del cranio, è sufficiente per visualizzare gli impianti cocleari, al tronco ed al collicolo inferiore, e per effettuarne il follow-up.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Istituto di Radiologia, Università di Verona, P.le L.A. Scuro, 37134, Verona, Italy

    R. Cerini, N. Faccioli, M. Barillari, M. De Iorio & R. Pozzi Mucelli

  2. Istituto di Otorinolaringoiatria, Policlinico G.B. Rossi, Università di Verona, P.le L.A. Scuro, 37134, Verona, Italy

    M. Carner & V. Colletti

Authors
  1. R. Cerini
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  2. N. Faccioli
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  3. M. Barillari
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  4. M. De Iorio
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  5. M. Carner
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  6. V. Colletti
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  7. R. Pozzi Mucelli
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to R. Cerini.

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Cerini, R., Faccioli, N., Barillari, M. et al. Bionic ear imaging. Radiol med 113, 265–277 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11547-008-0244-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11547-008-0244-y

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