title: Radiological diagnosis of incomplete partition type I versus type II: significance for cochlear implantation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate an extended cohort of patients with incomplete partition (IP) and examine the adequacy of the existing classifications based on radiological criteria and on their implications for cochlear implantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with IP admitted to a tertiary referral centre during the period 2000-2010 were retrospectively examined. The subjects were initially classified into IP-I, IP-II and atypical cases. For cochlear implant recipients relevant aspects were analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-three ears (49 patients) with IP were found, 19 with IP-I, 54 with IP-II and 10 atypical. Thirty-three patients received a cochlear implant (11 with IP-I, 19 with IP-II and three atypical) achieving heterogeneous though mostly promising results. Cerebrospinal fluid gushing was the commonest surgical complication, particularly in cases of IP-I. In general, patients with IP-II performed better than those with IP-I.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cochlear implantation promises adequate hearing rehabilitation for most patients with IP. As we move from IP-I to IP-II better results and lower risk for gushing shall be expected. Based on radiological findings we suggest a modified classification into IP-I, atypical IP-I (with large vestibular aqueduct (LVA) and better partition), IP-II (Mondini deformity) and atypical IP-IIa (without LVA) and b (without LVA but with semicircular canal dysplasia).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  • Radiological (CT and MR) features are of crucial importance for cochlear implantation                                                  • Imaging can identify two types of incomplete cochlear partition and atypical cases                                                  • Detailed pre-operative radiological assessment can help predict complications and outcome                                                  • A more comprehensive radiological classification of these anomalies is proposed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany. Kontorinis.Georgios@mh-hannover.de
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kontorinis
authors.forename: Friedrich
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Goetz
authors.forename: Alexandros
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giourgas
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lenarz
authors.forename: Heinrich
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lanfermann
authors.forename: Anja M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Giesemann
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003051:Cochlea / Q000002:abnormalities*; D019929:Cochlear Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D005260:Female; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed