Cochlear signal intensity changes in vestibular schwannoma: a balanced fast field-echo MRI study

IntroductionVestibular schwannoma (VS) is a benign tumor associated with cochlear degeneration and sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). This study aimed to evaluate cochlear signal intensity in VS patients using balanced fast field-echo (bFFE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to explore its relati...

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Main Authors: Hiroko Takeda, Takeshi Fujita, Tomonori Kanda, Yoichi Uozumi, Natsumi Uehara, Jun Yokoi, Akinobu Kakigi, Takashi Sasayama, Ken-ichi Nibu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Neurology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1549869/full
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author Hiroko Takeda
Takeshi Fujita
Tomonori Kanda
Yoichi Uozumi
Natsumi Uehara
Jun Yokoi
Akinobu Kakigi
Takashi Sasayama
Ken-ichi Nibu
author_facet Hiroko Takeda
Takeshi Fujita
Tomonori Kanda
Yoichi Uozumi
Natsumi Uehara
Jun Yokoi
Akinobu Kakigi
Takashi Sasayama
Ken-ichi Nibu
author_sort Hiroko Takeda
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionVestibular schwannoma (VS) is a benign tumor associated with cochlear degeneration and sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). This study aimed to evaluate cochlear signal intensity in VS patients using balanced fast field-echo (bFFE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to explore its relationship with tumor size, hearing loss, and postoperative changes.MethodsA retrospective analysis was conducted on 165 VS patients and 30 SNHL control patients who underwent bFFE MRI at Kobe University Hospital from 2008 to 2019. Cochlear signal intensity was measured bilaterally using regions of interest (ROIs), and signal intensity ratios (affected/normal) were calculated. Statistical analyses included linear regression and ANOVA to evaluate correlations with hearing levels, tumor size, and postoperative changes.ResultsVS patients exhibited significantly lower cochlear signal intensity ratios on the affected side compared to controls (75.3% vs. 100%, p < 0.0001). Correlations between cochlear signal intensity ratios and hearing levels were significant in Koos grade I tumors but not in higher-grade tumors. Tumor size was negatively correlated with cochlear signal intensity ratios in Koos grade II–IV tumors. Postoperatively, signal intensity normalized within 1–2 years, irrespective of hearing preservation.DiscussionDecreased cochlear signal intensity in VS patients may indicate protein concentration changes due to tumor secretions. bFFE MRI effectively captures these changes, providing insights into cochlear physiology and tumor impact.ConclusionbFFE MRI is a reliable tool for assessing cochlear signal intensity in VS patients, offering potential for improved tumor evaluation, surgical planning, and postoperative monitoring.
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spelling doaj-art-e51d49fb2c8442e7acbdd0bf4324e77c2025-08-20T02:25:17ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neurology1664-22952025-05-011610.3389/fneur.2025.15498691549869Cochlear signal intensity changes in vestibular schwannoma: a balanced fast field-echo MRI studyHiroko Takeda0Takeshi Fujita1Tomonori Kanda2Yoichi Uozumi3Natsumi Uehara4Jun Yokoi5Akinobu Kakigi6Takashi Sasayama7Ken-ichi Nibu8Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kobe University Hospital, Kobe, JapanDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kobe University Hospital, Kobe, JapanDepartment of Radiology, Kobe University Hospital, Kobe, JapanDepartment of Neurosurgery, Kobe University Hospital, Kobe, JapanDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kobe University Hospital, Kobe, JapanDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kobe University Hospital, Kobe, JapanDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kobe University Hospital, Kobe, JapanDepartment of Neurosurgery, Kobe University Hospital, Kobe, JapanDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kobe University Hospital, Kobe, JapanIntroductionVestibular schwannoma (VS) is a benign tumor associated with cochlear degeneration and sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). This study aimed to evaluate cochlear signal intensity in VS patients using balanced fast field-echo (bFFE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to explore its relationship with tumor size, hearing loss, and postoperative changes.MethodsA retrospective analysis was conducted on 165 VS patients and 30 SNHL control patients who underwent bFFE MRI at Kobe University Hospital from 2008 to 2019. Cochlear signal intensity was measured bilaterally using regions of interest (ROIs), and signal intensity ratios (affected/normal) were calculated. Statistical analyses included linear regression and ANOVA to evaluate correlations with hearing levels, tumor size, and postoperative changes.ResultsVS patients exhibited significantly lower cochlear signal intensity ratios on the affected side compared to controls (75.3% vs. 100%, p < 0.0001). Correlations between cochlear signal intensity ratios and hearing levels were significant in Koos grade I tumors but not in higher-grade tumors. Tumor size was negatively correlated with cochlear signal intensity ratios in Koos grade II–IV tumors. Postoperatively, signal intensity normalized within 1–2 years, irrespective of hearing preservation.DiscussionDecreased cochlear signal intensity in VS patients may indicate protein concentration changes due to tumor secretions. bFFE MRI effectively captures these changes, providing insights into cochlear physiology and tumor impact.ConclusionbFFE MRI is a reliable tool for assessing cochlear signal intensity in VS patients, offering potential for improved tumor evaluation, surgical planning, and postoperative monitoring.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1549869/fullvestibular schwannomasensorineural hearing lossMRIbFFEcochlea
spellingShingle Hiroko Takeda
Takeshi Fujita
Tomonori Kanda
Yoichi Uozumi
Natsumi Uehara
Jun Yokoi
Akinobu Kakigi
Takashi Sasayama
Ken-ichi Nibu
Cochlear signal intensity changes in vestibular schwannoma: a balanced fast field-echo MRI study
Frontiers in Neurology
vestibular schwannoma
sensorineural hearing loss
MRI
bFFE
cochlea
title Cochlear signal intensity changes in vestibular schwannoma: a balanced fast field-echo MRI study
title_full Cochlear signal intensity changes in vestibular schwannoma: a balanced fast field-echo MRI study
title_fullStr Cochlear signal intensity changes in vestibular schwannoma: a balanced fast field-echo MRI study
title_full_unstemmed Cochlear signal intensity changes in vestibular schwannoma: a balanced fast field-echo MRI study
title_short Cochlear signal intensity changes in vestibular schwannoma: a balanced fast field-echo MRI study
title_sort cochlear signal intensity changes in vestibular schwannoma a balanced fast field echo mri study
topic vestibular schwannoma
sensorineural hearing loss
MRI
bFFE
cochlea
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1549869/full
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