Takeda Hiroko, Fujita Takeshi, Kanda Tomonori, Uozumi Yoichi, Uehara Natsumi, Yokoi Jun, Kakigi Akinobu, Sasayama Takashi, Nibu Ken-Ichi
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kobe University Hospital, Kobe, Japan.
Department of Radiology, Kobe University Hospital, Kobe, Japan.
Front Neurol. 2025 May 19;16:1549869. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2025.1549869. eCollection 2025.
Vestibular 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.
A 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.
VS patients exhibited significantly lower cochlear signal intensity ratios on the affected side compared to controls (75.3% vs. 100%, < 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.
Decreased 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.
bFFE MRI is a reliable tool for assessing cochlear signal intensity in VS patients, offering potential for improved tumor evaluation, surgical planning, and postoperative monitoring.
前庭神经鞘瘤（VS）是一种与耳蜗变性和感音神经性听力损失（SNHL）相关的良性肿瘤。本研究旨在使用平衡快速场回波（bFFE）磁共振成像（MRI）评估VS患者的耳蜗信号强度，并探讨其与肿瘤大小、听力损失及术后变化的关系。
对2008年至2019年在神户大学医院接受bFFE MRI检查的165例VS患者和30例SNHL对照患者进行回顾性分析。使用感兴趣区（ROI）双侧测量耳蜗信号强度，并计算信号强度比（患侧/正常侧）。统计分析包括线性回归和方差分析，以评估与听力水平、肿瘤大小及术后变化的相关性。
与对照组相比，VS患者患侧的耳蜗信号强度比显著降低（75.3%对100%，<0.0001）。在库斯I级肿瘤中，耳蜗信号强度比与听力水平之间存在显著相关性，而在高级别肿瘤中则无。在库斯II-IV级肿瘤中，肿瘤大小与耳蜗信号强度比呈负相关。术后，无论听力是否保留，信号强度在1-2年内恢复正常。
VS患者耳蜗信号强度降低可能表明肿瘤分泌物导致蛋白质浓度变化。bFFE MRI有效地捕捉了这些变化，为耳蜗生理学和肿瘤影响提供了见解。
bFFE MRI是评估VS患者耳蜗信号强度的可靠工具，在改善肿瘤评估、手术规划和术后监测方面具有潜力。
