Congenital hearing loss. Is CT enough?

The aim of this study is to evaluate the value of high resolution CT scan (HRCT) in diagnosis and management of congenital hearing loss.Patients and methodsThis is a prospective study including 60 patients, 24 males and 36 females aged from 1 to 7 years, who were presented by unilateral or bilateral congenital conductive (CHL) or/and sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). All patients were evaluated by HRCT scan with post-processing multiplanar reconstruction (MPR). Only three Results: External auditory canal atresia (EACA) was diagnosed in 10 patients, while both EACA and middle ear anomalies were diagnosed in another 6 patients. Variable inner ear anomalies were diagnosed in the patients with SNHL. One patient with SNHL had cochlear nerve aplasia that was missed by HRCT and was diagnosed by MRI, in addition to the CT diagnosed vestibulocochlear anomalies.ConclusionAlthough HRCT scan can be used as a solitary diagnostic imaging tool for diagnosis of pure CHL, combined CT and MRI examination is crucial for preoperative evaluation of SNHL patients.