MRT- examinations with a lying cochlea implant

Introduction Cochlear implants have been implanted in every age group for 22 years. In this process, the shape and length of the electrodes, technical adjustment modalities and, on the part of the patient, the processor optics are often taken into consideration. MRI capability is often secondary in these considerations.

Case presentation: A 54-year-old female patient who has had a cochlear implant on the right side for 9 years and who suffers from bds profound sensorineural hearing loss requires an MRI examination of the lumbar spine and the shoulder. After clarification and compliance with the manufacturer's specifications with a fixed compression bandage over the implant site and performance of the MRI examination at only 1.5 tesla, after an examination duration of 27 min and a stay of 32 min in the MRI room, she experienced significant pain, swelling in the area of the implant site and subsequent rejection of the processor.

Therapy and course: After removing the magnet from the processor and stopping it manually, the implant is completely intact during the technical examination with NRT and IFT measurements.

When the implant pocket is opened, a flip-over of the magnet from the magnet pocket is visible, so that the marking of the magnet with the star faces the cranial side. There is no damage to the magnetic bearing, so that without changing the implant only a completely new magnet is inserted, which re-tightens the processor.

Discussion In the course of life, more and more people are receiving MRI examinations. Should all cochlear implants have a firmly embedded magnet or should all patients receive a cochlear implant that is safely MRI-capable and also allows good results with 3 Tesla?

Poster-PDF A-1435.pdf

Publication History

Article published online:
13 May 2021