title: Computed tomography demonstrates abnormalities of contralateral ear in subjects with unilateral sensorineural hearing loss.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Prior studies have associated gross inner ear abnormalities with pediatric sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) using computed tomography (CT). No studies to date have specifically investigated morphologic inner ear abnormalities involving the contralateral unaffected ear in patients with unilateral SNHL. The purpose of this study is to evaluate contralateral inner ear structures of subjects with unilateral SNHL but no grossly abnormal findings on CT.
  
  
  METHODS
  IRB-approved retrospective analysis of pediatric temporal bone CT scans. 97 temporal bone CT scans, previously interpreted as "normal" based upon previously accepted guidelines by board certified neuroradiologists, were assessed using 12 measurements of the semicircular canals, cochlea and vestibule. The control-group consisted of 72 "normal" temporal bone CTs with underlying SNHL in the subject excluded. The study-group consisted of 25 normal-hearing contralateral temporal bones in subjects with unilateral SNHL. Multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) was then conducted to evaluate for differences between the study and control group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cochlea basal turn lumen width was significantly greater in magnitude and central lucency of the lateral semicircular canal bony island was significantly lower in density for audiometrically normal ears of subjects with unilateral SNHL compared to controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Abnormalities of the inner ear were present in the contralateral audiometrically normal ears of subjects with unilateral SNHL. These data suggest that patients with unilateral SNHL may have a more pervasive disease process that results in abnormalities of both ears. The findings of a cochlea basal turn lumen width disparity >5% from "normal" and/or a lateral semicircular canal bony island central lucency disparity of >5% from "normal" may indicate inherent risk to the contralateral unaffected ear in pediatric patients with unilateral sensorineural hearing loss.
authors.affiliation: New York University Langone Medical Center, Department of Otolaryngology, 550 First Avenue, NBB 5E5, New York, NY 10016, United States.
authors.forename: Sonya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marcus
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Wake Forest™ School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, United States.
authors.forename: Christopher T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Whitlow
authors.affiliation: Mountain Empire Radiology, 1301 Sunset Drive Suite 3, Johnson City, TN 37604, United States.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koonce
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Wake Forest™ School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, United States.
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Zapadka
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Wake Forest™ School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, United States.
authors.forename: Michael Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Head & Neck Radiology, Neuroradiology, Department of Radiology, Wake Forest™ School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, United States.
authors.forename: Daniel W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Wake Forest™ School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, United States.
authors.forename: Meagan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Wake Forest™ School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, United States. Electronic address: akevans@wakehealth.edu.
authors.forename: Adele K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Evans
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Bony island lucency; Inner ear abnormalities; Pediatric hearing loss; Temporal bone anatomy; Temporal bone computed tomography; Unilateral sensorineural hearing loss