Objective: For cochlea implant recipients, the diagnostic value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans is reduced by image artifacts. The static magnetic field of a 3.0 T scanner is associated with the risks of implant demagnetization. The aim to support 3.0 T MRI scanners and minimize the risk of demagnetization led to the development of rotatable implant magnets. The aim of this study was to compare the image artifact caused by 1st and 2nd generation rotatable cochlea implant magnets in 3.0 T MRI.
Patients: 3.0T MRI T2W TSE sequences were performed on three subjects with of 1st and 2nd generation cochlea implant magnets. The cochlear implant was fixed to the head at the implantation position. The size of the image artifact was determined in transversal plane.
Results: Intraindividual comparative study showed that within the margin of combined uncertainty of 5 mm at a resolution of 1,5 mm the cochlea implant induced image artifacts in all subjects showed for both, 1st and 2nd generation cochlea implant magnets, the same maximum image artifact dimension of 125 mm.
Conclusion: We could show that no difference in image artifact size can be detected within the margin of error determined by resolution, localized induced shift of the scan and reproducibility of the tilt angle of the head relative to the chest in a living subject. Improved magnet attachment can be reached without compromise magnet artifact size.


Intraindividual comparison of image artifact of two generation of rotable cochlear implant magnets

It is with great pleasure and enthusiasm, that on behalf of the Cochlear Implant centers of the Radboud UMC in Nijmegen and Erasmus MC Sophia Children’s Hospital in Rotterdam to invite you to attend the 16th European Symposium on Pediatric Cochlear Implantation to Rotterdam, the Netherlands in 2023.

Yours sincerely, on behalf of the CI Centers at Radboud UMC and Erasmus MC,