Determining compliance of ear CT scan with interaoperative findings in deaf children with cochlear implantation

IntroductionDefecated or impaired hair cell function of the cochlea causes deafness. Cochlear implantation allows transmission of sound information through central auditory pathways using direct electric stimulation of auditory nerve dendrites. Using radiologic imaging, including CT scan is very helpful in selection of candidates and evaluation after implantation. The purpose of this study is to determine compliance of CT findings in deaf children undergoing cochlear implantation compared with the intra-operative findings.MethodIn a periodical-descriptive study, 100 patients (56 male and 44 female), 6 months to 6 years of age, who were candidates for cochlear implantation at Baqiyatallah Hospital in Tehran between January 2010 and October 2011, were studied. After getting informed consent form the parents of patients, demographic data was recorded. CT scan and surgical data were double blindly collected in the designed questionnaire which was approved by three radiologists and three ENT specialists. Finally, surgical and radiological data were compared and t-test and chi-square test was used.ResultsAtic status in 89 patients (89%) was statistically significant between radiology and surgery (P = 0.06). Positive Predictive Value and Negative Predictive Value were respectively 100 and 92.8. Middle ear space was same in 85 patients (85%) in the two methods (P = 0.01) (NVP = 63.4). Pyramid status was similar in radiology and surgery results in 67 patients (67%) (P = 0.000) and PPV and NPV were 100 and 63.4 respectively. Jugular bulb was similar in 73 patients (73%) (P = 0.00). There was no significant difference between other modalities.ConclusionIn most cases examined in this study, compliance between the surgical and radiological findings was above 80%. In some cases, CT scan could give confidence to the surgeon, but in atic, middle ear space, pyramid and jugular bulb there might be insufficient reliance to CT findings and there would be need to more accurate observation during surgery.