Is virtual endoscopy of the middle ear useful?

Virtual endoscopy is a relatively new imaging technology in otology, and therefore data on its efficacy in clinical situations are limited. We conducted a prospective study to evaluate the clinical relevance of radiologic diagnoses based on virtual endoscopy of the middle ear. Our patient population was made up of 30 adults who were scheduled to undergo surgery to correct conductive hearing loss of unknown etiology.

[Auditory brainstem implantation in patient with bilateral acoustic neuromas].

Objective: To restore auditory sensation for patient suffering loss of hearing due to bilateral acoustic neuromas.

Method: One patient of bilateral acoustic neuromas received auditory brainstem implant (ABI) at the same surgery for resection of the second tumor. The retrosigmoid approach was used for resection of the tumor and to exposure the lateral recess of the fourth ventricle for placement of ABI electrode array.

Radiation-induced petrous internal carotid artery aneurysm.

Iatrogenic internal carotid artery aneurysm is a rare complication of irradiation. There are few reported cases in the literature. A case of radiation-induced petrous internal carotid artery aneurysm in a patient with nasopharyngeal cancer treated with radiotherapy is reported.

Short electrode insertion in cochlear implantation: speech perception performance of Cantonese-speaking subjects.

Conclusions: Subjects with cochlear ossification derived benefits in terms of speech performance similar to those of the non-ossified group. It is thus recommended that the insertion of short electrode arrays should be considered an alternative choice for patients with cochlear ossification.

Objective: Cochlear ossification has been recognized as a major obstacle to the full insertion of a multichannel cochlear implant electrode array.