Evaluation of inner ear congenital and developmental lesions by HRCT and MRI

To assess the role of HRCT and MR imaging in the evaluation of congenital and developmental anomalies of the inner ear and how the results could affect the management of such patients, 56 patients (43 males, 13 females, aged 7 days to 70 years) were examined by high resolution computed tomography and / or magnetic rresonance imaging between July 2000 and May 2004 for assessment of inner ear abnormalities. Eighty-five develpmental and congenital inner ear lesions were detected in 67 temporal bones and were classified into three groups: Group A, lesions involving the proper inner ear structures (23 lesions in 14 tem¬poral bones of 10 patients); Goup B, lesions involving vascular structures (58 lesions in 49 temporal bones of 43 patients); Group C, facial nerve lesions (4 lesions in 4 temporal bones of 3 patients). It was concluded that HRCT is the gold standard imaging modality for assessing lesions involving the os¬seous labyrinth of the inner ear and vascular structures while MRI signficantly improves the diagnosis of lesions invoving the membranous labyrinth and related cranial nerves. Both imaging modalities siginficantly help the otologist in treating and establishing the proper man- ; agemnt plan for these patients.