Objective: To assess the relationship of sensorineural hearing loss to pericochlear radiographic hypoattenuation in the pediatric population.
Study design: Retrospective case review.
Setting: Tertiary referral center.
Patients: Children, younger than 5 years, with both computed tomographic imaging of the temporal bone and audiometric analysis between 2004 and 2008 at the University of Michigan.
Intervention: Diagnostic.
Main outcome measure(s): The prevalence of pericochlear hypoattenuation in ears with and without hearing loss.
Results: One hundred seventy-six patients (98 male and 78 female patients) were completely reviewed. The prevalence of cochlear hypoattenuation was 39.2% (107/273) in ears with hearing loss, compared with 40.5% (32/79) in ears without hearing loss (p = 0.83). Similarly, the prevalence of hypoattenuation was not different in ears with sensorineural hearing loss (36.8%, 70/190) and those without hearing loss (40.3%, 31/79, p = 0.60). Patients with hypoattenuation (mean, 24 mo) were significantly younger than patients without hypoattenuation (mean, 30 mo). The prevalence of hypoattenuation was higher in the ears of children born prematurely (35/64, 54.7%) compared with the ears of children born at full term (90/230, 39.1%, p = 0.026; 95% confidence interval, 1.88%-29.3%).
Conclusion: There does not seem to be a relationship between sensorineural hearing loss and the presence of decreased density of the bony cochlea in the pediatric population. The density of pericochlear bone increases with age. Prematurity is associated with a higher risk of hypoattenuation. This radiographic finding is common and may represent a normal developmental process.