Comparing Cochlear Duct Lengths Between CT and MR Images Using an Otological Surgical Planning Software

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Radiology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Accurate measurement of cochlear duct length (CDL) is crucial for cochlear implant surgery planning.
• Traditional methods rely on computed tomography (CT), considered the gold standard.
• Variability in measurements can impact surgical outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the intra- and interobserver variability in CDL measurements using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) compared to CT.
• To assess the performance of otological surgical planning software in estimating CDL from both MRI and CT data.

Main Methods:

• Twenty-one adult patients with preoperative MRI and CT scans were included.
• Three neurotologists measured CDL using CT (benchmark) and MRI.
• Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were calculated to determine reliability.

Main Results:

• The mean CDL from CT was 32.7 ± 2.0 mm.
• The mean difference in CDL measurements between raters using MRI was -0.15 ± 2.1 mm.
• Inter-rater reliability (ICC = 0.68) and intra-rater reliability (ICC = 0.73) for MRI measurements were fair to excellent.

Conclusions:

• Otological surgical planning software demonstrates comparable performance for estimating CDL using MRI and CT scans.
• MRI is a reliable alternative to CT for preoperative CDL assessment in cochlear implant planning.