The growth of the mastoid volume in children with a cochlear implant

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Otolaryngology
• Medical Imaging
• Surgical Outcomes

Background:

• Mastoid volume development is crucial for pediatric audiology and otologic surgery.
• Understanding growth patterns post-cochlear implantation (CI) is essential for long-term outcomes.
• Previous studies have not definitively addressed CI's impact on mastoid volume in young children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate mastoid volume changes in children undergoing cochlear implantation.
• To assess the correlation between linear anatomical measurements and mastoid volume development.
• To determine if CI surgery influences mastoid volume growth in pediatric patients.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of computed tomography (CT) scans from eight pediatric CI patients (under 12 years) with pre- and postoperative imaging (minimum 12-month interval).
• Utilized Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) for linear measurements (e.g., round window to bony ear canal) and Seg 3D software for mastoid volume calculation.
• Analyzed the correlation between linear distances and mastoid volume, comparing findings with literature on non-CI patients.

Main Results:

• Mastoid volume increased by an average of 817.5 mm³ between pre- and postoperative imaging.
• Significant increases in linear distances (e.g., mastoid tip to superior semicircular canal) correlated positively with patient age.
• Strong positive linear correlations were found between specific linear measurements (MT-SSC, RW-SS, RW-BEC) and mastoid volume.

Conclusions:

• Mastoid volume naturally increases in children, with linear anatomical measurements showing significant growth and correlation with volume.
• Cochlear implantation surgery in children under 12 years appears to have no discernible effect on mastoid volume development.
• Findings suggest that CI does not impede the natural growth trajectory of the mastoid bone.