Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis and Treatment [Chapter 5. Neuroradiology of the Hearing System]

Hearing loss is one of the most frequent indications for CT and MR examinations of the auditory system. Such a symptomatology is becoming increasingly common in today’s society and is extremely disturbing for patients. Causes may involve the auditory pathway at any level. In most cases, neuroradiological examinations represents a mandatory step, within a multidisciplinary workup, towards final diagnosis, therapeutic plan and subsequent follow-ups. This chapter will introduce this critical topic starting from an imaging-based exposition of the anatomy and function of the auditory system. The chapter will include some hints on the choice of the best imaging examination to perform on each patient since the type of hearing loss determines which imaging study will yield the most diagnostic information. Practical coverage of the neuroradiological findings in conductive, sensorineural and mixed hearing loss forms will be presented. Ranging from congenital to acute and chronic causes, from children to adults, the role of imaging-based examinations will be illustrated for both common and uncommon diseases of the hearing system. To increase reading and review experience, the authors will include concise descriptions (in a bullet outline format and/or in tables) of all the discussed key information related to anatomy, function and pathology. High-quality CT and MR images will support the reader in each paragraph for an optimal learning experience of the discussed topics.