Imaging of inner ear malformation in paediatric patients—a 10-year tertiary centre review

Question Accurate assessment of the inner ear/cochlear nerve is important for guiding treatment, but literature on their relative frequency and correlation with hearing impairment is lacking. Findings Cochlear system abnormalities are more frequent than reported in the literature. Cochlear aperture atresia, cochlear, or vestibulocochlear nerve aplasia are significant predictors of hearing impairment. Clinical relevance This study highlights the importance of assessment of the cochlear nervous system with the use of high-resolution MRI in the evaluation of paediatric sensorineural hearing loss.