Computed tomography of the inner ear is considered the most effective way to diagnose diseases associated with hearing loss.
Since the inner ear is an extensive and at the same time complex system of bony canals that form the auditory organs, fixing their image as accurately as possible is a problematic task. But tomography does it well, offering detailed imaging and examination results just a few hours after the end of the procedure.
Indications and contraindications
In addition to being responsible for monitoring the health of the hearing organs, CT of the inner ear also provides data regarding possible abnormalities in the vestibular apparatus.
Some people far from medicine believe that the presented diagnostics are just an alternative to an x-ray. But in practice, a computer examination gives a more complete picture of what is happening through the use of images of organs from different angles.
But what does tomography show, besides the auditory system itself? The finished tomogram helps to determine the specific focus of the disease, the extent of the lesion, the presence of neoplasms, if any.
If an in-depth study is required, then an additional stage of intravenous contrasting is involved. But because of this, the price of the examination also increases, but the result is more accurate, which is especially important if you want to detect diseases at an early stage.
Among the most common reasons that prompt a doctor to issue a referral to a patient for diagnosis is unexplained hearing loss. Also in the list of the most frequent indications were strange pain sensations or regular tingling inside the ear canal. Sometimes the reason for the appointment is discharge from the ear. Moreover, it can be both purulent discharge, and just a slightly colored liquid.
Situations with suspicion regarding a possible lesion of the vestibular apparatus are considered separately. Dizziness and a wobbly gait will indicate deviations.
CT may be required for those patients who have already been diagnosed with some disease in this area and now need regular monitoring to monitor the dynamics of treatment. These can be both confirmed problems of the middle, inner ear, otosclerosis, and oncology.
Also, the method helps to find neoplasms of any etiology and acts as a safety net during the preparatory stage for surgical intervention in this area in humans.
All of the above helps to diagnose a number of serious pathologies, among which the most common are:
- hearing loss of a congenital or acquired nature;
- displacement of bones due to fractures and other types of injuries;
- inflammatory processes of infectious and other origin;
- neoplasms, including such as: abscesses, neuromas and other tumors.
Despite the fact that CT diagnostics is relatively safe, there are contraindications for its use. Moreover, all contraindications are classified as relative. This means that in case of urgent need, the attending physician can ignore them in order to save the patient’s life.
The main contraindications include age up to 14 years, pregnancy, lactation, renal and hepatic insufficiency, allergic reactions to the components of the contrast agent. But the last point is relevant only for situations where the manipulation involves the obligatory conduct of the contrasting stage. For conventional computed tomography, this is not important.
The most important contraindication is pregnancy at any time. Such categoricalness is explained by the risks of developing fetal anomalies, even when taking into account the minimum exposure to ionizing radiation.
The essence of the procedure
Unlike many similar diagnostics for making a verdict on the health of the inner ear, CT has no special requirements for preparation. A person will simply be required to remove all jewelry and other metal objects. For the same purpose, many private clinics generally offer their visitors to change into branded hospital pajamas or special disposable gowns.
If the study implies the need to use a contrast agent, the patient should refrain from eating four hours before the start of the procedure and water two hours before.
Regardless of whether it is required to obtain a projection of the hearing aid or the vestibular apparatus, the examination algorithm remains the same:
- the patient is placed on the table, a roller is placed under the neck. If necessary, the head is additionally fixed with straps, which allows you to remain still during the diagnosis;
- the mechanism for moving the table under the arch of the scanner starts;
- the device itself turns on, rotating around the patient’s head.
Do not be afraid of clicks and other sound alerts during the operation of the tomograph. This only indicates that the detectors are working properly, directing a narrow beam of x-rays to the selected point.
Usually the procedure lasts no more than fifteen minutes. The patient will have to wait another half an hour or an hour if he needs to take the results with him and provide the attending physician as quickly as possible. But often the radiologist transfers the encrypted conclusion to the specialist on his own.
If the appointment says about the need to go through the stage of contrasting, then at the preliminary stage the doctor is obliged to choose the optimal solution. To do this, he relies on the results of an allergic test, the individual characteristics of the patient and his weight. Most often, preference is given to iodinated preparations, which allow creating a clear contrast.
The agent is administered intravenously, and it quickly stains the vessels, which makes them more visible against the general background. The decay products of the drug are excreted naturally for about two days. Moreover, nausea and headache in the first hours after administration are acceptable side effects.
Explanation of results
The conclusions made on the basis of tomography should be evaluated by the doctor himself. And the radiologist only records all the measurements made, and also attaches pictures of the area under study.
The most important parameters by which the patient’s condition is determined are the indicators of the bone labyrinth with a capsule. Also important are the dimensions and detailed characteristics of the internal auditory meatus. Separately, anomalies in the location of the hearing organs are prescribed. The radiologist notes foci of inflammation of an infectious origin, neoplasms of various sizes and structures. The diagnostician necessarily indicates whether the ear vessels are normal, which became possible due to the involvement of a contrast solution.
Based on the above, as well as other analyzes and complaints of the victim, the ENT doctor makes the final diagnosis, and also draws up a further treatment regimen.