Mastoid Growth and the Configuration of Cochlear Implant Electrode Lead

ObjectivesTo study the changes in the coiled configuration of electrode excess lead in the mastoid cavity in the cochlear implant recipients over time.MethodsPost-operative CT scans at two different appointments of fourteen patients with cochlear implants (CI) were retrospectively analyzed using a DICOM viewer software (3D-slicer). Mastoid thickness (MT) was measured in the oblique coronal plane from the round window (RW) entrance to the mastoid edge and inter-cochlear distance (ICD) was measured in the axial plane at the fundus level between two ears. 3D segmentation of the entire inner ear of both sides and coiled electrode excess lead was performed to visually compare the changes in coiled configuration between the two CT scan time points.ResultMT and ICD increased logarithmically with the patient's age, as has been measured from both the 1st and the 2nd CT scans and a weak linear correlation between MT and ICD was observed. Growth in MT and ICT measured between the time of 1st and 2nd CT scans showed a strong linear correlation. In eight cases, changes in the electrode excess lead have been observed in the 2nd CT scan, either a change in the coiling configuration of electrode excess lead or shifted laterally toward the mastoid edge. The ICD growth between the 1st and the 2nd CT scans was >2 mm in only seven cases and all of them were children. All other six cases had no observed changes in the coiled electrode lead. In addition, the mastoid growth between the 1st and the 2nd CT scan was >2.5 mm in only 4 cases.ConclusionCoiled configuration of electrode excess lead could change when the MT and ICD increased over time.