Assessment of the cochlear nerve to facial nerve size ratio using MR multiplanar reconstruction of the internal auditory canal in patients presenting with acquired long-standing hearing loss

Objective: To test using the facial nerve as a reference for assessment of the cochlear nerve size in patients with acquired long-standing sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) using MRI multiplanar reconstruction. Methods: The study was retrospectively performed on 86 patients. Group 1 (study group, n = 53) with bilateral long-standing SNHL. Group 2 (control group, n = 33) without hearing loss. The nerve size was measured by drawing a region of interest around the cross-sectional circumference of the nerve in multiplanar reconstruction images. Results: No significant correlation was noted between the cochlear nerve and facial nerve size, and the patient's age, gender and weight (p > 0.05). In Group 1, the mean ratio of the cochlear to facial nerve size was 0.99 +/- 0.30 (range: 0.52-1.86) and 1.12 +/- 0.35 (range: 0.34-2.3) for the right and left sides, respectively. In Group 2, it was 1.18 +/- 0.23 (range: 0.78-1.71) and 1.25 +/- 0.25 (range: 0.85-1.94) for the right and left sides, respectively. The cochlear nerve size was statistically (p = 0.0004) smaller in Group 1 than in Group 2. Conclusion: The cochlear nerve size and the cochlear to facial nerve size ratio are significantly smaller in patients with acquired long-standing SNHL. Advances in knowledge: The facial nerve can be used as a reference for assessment of the cochlear nerve in patients with acquired long-standing SNHL.