[Clinical utilization of magnetic resonance imaging for patients with cochlear implants]

To date, MR imaging is absolutely contraindicated in cochlear-implanted patients. The aim of this study is to document the potential value of MR imaging in such patients, without injurious or side effects and without technical device failure. After in vitro experimental testing, 25 cochlear implanted patients underwent MRI. Radiological evaluation was also possible. The use of 1-Tesla fast spin echo sequences minimised artifacts. All cochlear implants are still in working order; no changes in fitting data or a reduction in speech understanding were observed. MR helped to avoid other invasive medical procedures.