Magnetic resonance imaging findings in the auditory pathway of patients with sudden deafness

The objectives of this study were to evaluate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) and to grade the findings based on their clinical importance.

A prospective clinical study.

A tertiary referral center (university hospital).

MRI findings of 82 consecutive patients with SSNHL fulfilling the inclusion criteria.

We studied 1.0-T MR images that were analyzed by one experienced neuroradiologist.

Of the six cases (7%) in which clearly hearing loss was obviously associated with the observed pathology, four patients had an acoustic neuroma in the internal auditory canal or cerebellopontine angle, one patient had changes at the level of pons, and one patient had an obliterated internal carotid artery. Of the six other patients (7%) in which MRI revealed changes that suggest a possible etiology to hearing loss, two patients showed a demyelinating process and four patients showed blood vessel abnormalities such as caroticocavernous fistula, abnormally locating vertebral or basilar artery, and a venous angioma.

Enhanced MR imaging seems to be a useful examination in patients with SSNHL. The aim should not be only to exclude specific retrocochlear etiologies, but by appropriate techniques, MRI could reveal both peripheral and central abnormalities.