Asymmetric sensorineural hearing loss evaluation with T2 FSE-MRI in a public hospital

T2-weighted fast-spin echo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be an economically beneficial protocol for screening patients with asymmetric sensorineural hearing loss without other neurologic findings in a public hospital population.

The goal of this study was to determine if fast spin echo T2 MRI is similar to gadolinium-enhanced MRI in evaluating asymmetric sensorineural hearing loss in a county hospital population.

This was a retrospective chart review of all outpatients seen at a public hospital, comprising patients with no other cranial nerve findings who underwent gadolinium-enhanced MRI of the internal auditory canal and brain between January 2002 and September 2003. Patients with >15 dB difference in hearing at one frequency or 10 dB hearing difference at two frequencies underwent gadolinium-enhanced MRI scan with FSE T2 sequence as part of the examination protocol.

A total of 146 patients were identified who met all the inclusion criteria for the study. Of the 146 MRI scans performed, abnormalities were seen on 71 of them, the majority of which were inconsequential. No acoustic neuromas were identified in our study population. Cost savings of over 100,000 dollars would have been realized if only T2 FSE protocols had been used.