Govindaraju Revadi, Omar Rahmat, Rajagopalan Raman, Norlisah Ramli, Kwan-Hoong Ng
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Auris Nasus Larynx. 2011 Aug;38(4):519-22. doi: 10.1016/j.anl.2010.12.006. Epub 2011 Jan 13.
The higher field strength magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) such as 3 Tesla (T) and above generates noise that has potential detrimental effects on the hearing. Temporary threshold shifts following MRI examination have been reported for MRI with lower field strength. Such effect, however, have not been reported so far for a 3T MRI. We report a case that exemplifies the possible detrimental effects of a 3 T MRI generated noise on the auditory system. Our patient underwent investigation of his chronic backache in a 3 T MRI unit and developed hearing loss and tinnitus post-MRI examination. Hearing assessment was done using pure tone audiogram, distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) and brainstem electrical response audiometry (BERA) which revealed a unilateral sensorineural hearing loss which recovered within 3 days. However the tinnitus persisted. This is possibly a case of temporary threshold shift following noise exposure. However a sudden sensorineural hearing loss remains the other possibility.
高场强磁共振成像（MRI），如3特斯拉（T）及以上的磁场强度，会产生对听力有潜在有害影响的噪声。对于低场强MRI，已有关于MRI检查后出现暂时性阈移的报道。然而，迄今为止，3T MRI尚未有此类影响的报道。我们报告一例病例，该病例例证了3T MRI产生的噪声对听觉系统可能存在的有害影响。我们的患者在3T MRI设备中接受了慢性背痛检查，MRI检查后出现听力损失和耳鸣。使用纯音听力图、畸变产物耳声发射（DPOAE）和脑干电反应测听法（BERA）进行听力评估，结果显示为单侧感音神经性听力损失，在3天内恢复。然而，耳鸣持续存在。这可能是噪声暴露后出现暂时性阈移的病例。不过，突发性感音神经性听力损失仍是另一种可能。
