5-T MRI detects atrophy of the cochlear nerve aperture segment in severe-to-profound acquired hearing loss

5-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reveals atrophy of the cochlear nerve aperture segment in acquired severe-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss: aperture-to-meatus size ratio 0.66 vs 0.75 (p=0.045), and size correlates with hearing loss duration and severity.

• Prospective cohort of 71 acquired sensorineural hearing loss patients and 50 matched controls; 121 affected ears and 98 control ears measured.
• After facial nerve normalization, affected ears had smaller cochlear nerve size at the cochlear aperture segment but not at the internal acoustic meatus segment.
• Interaural differences in hearing loss duration and pure-tone audiometry correlated with cochlear aperture segment size (Rho = -0.247 to -0.356, p < 0.05).

Automated summary

RadPigeon summaries are original and for information only. They are not clinical advice.