Post mortem cadaveric and imaging mapping analysis of the influence of cochlear implants on cMRI assessment regarding implant positioning and artifact formation

This study provides detailed predictive power for the assessability and therefore the relevance of performing cMRIs in CI patients. We advocate consulting the relevant CI center if artifact overlay exceeds 50% (categories 3 and 4), to evaluate magnet explantation and reassess the necessity of cMRI. When suspecting cholesteatoma or cholesteatoma recurrences in patients with ipsilateral cochlear implants, diagnostic investigation should preferably be pursued surgically, as the necessary MRI sequences are prone to artifact interference, even in the absence of a magnet. The ipsilateral internal auditory canal remains inadequately evaluable with a magnet in situ, while without the magnet, only rudimentary assessments can be made across most sequences.