Imaging in pediatric bilateral sensorineural hearing loss: Diagnostic yield with computed tomography versus magnetic resonance imaging

Objectives: To evaluate the findings and compare the diagnostic yield of computed tomography (CT) versus magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in children with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss (BSNHL).

Study design: Multi-institutional retrospective review.

Setting: Three tertiary referral centers.

Methods: A multi-institutional retrospective chart review was performed in patients under the age of 18 years with BSNHL (diagnosis codes 389.00-389.22) who underwent both CT and MRI from 2010 to 2012. An abnormal imaging finding was defined as an abnormality of the cochleovestibular or central nervous system known to directly correlate with sensorineural hearing loss. Diagnostic yield of CT versus MRI was compared by McNemar's test.

Results: Of 2081 charts reviewed, 313 patients met inclusion criteria. The diagnostic yield of CT and MRI were 25% and 18%, respectively. Approximately one-quarter of patients had an abnormal finding on CT or MRI. The concordance rate was 92%. CT was more likely to yield an abnormal finding versus MRI (p-value = 0.0001). The most common findings on CT were cochlear and semicircular canal abnormalities. On MRI, the most common findings were cochlear nerve aplasia/hypoplasia and semicircular canal abnormalities.

Conclusions: This study evaluates and directly compares the diagnostic yield of CT versus MRI for pediatric BSNHL. While both modalities have important and often complementary diagnostic utility, CT had superior diagnostic yield in identifying abnormalities associated with BSNHL.