Magnetic resonance imaging of the inner ear and internal auditory canals (IAC)
Ear and Internal Auditory Canal MRI in Casablanca
This MRI examines the inner ear, that is, the cochlea (the organ of hearing) and the vestibule (the organ of balance), as well as the internal auditory canals, small bony channels through which the nerves for hearing, balance and the face pass. It takes very thin slices, about one millimeter thick. It helps look for an acoustic neuroma (a benign tumor of a balance nerve) or investigate hearing loss, tinnitus or facial paralysis. The bones of the ear are better assessed by a temporal bone CT scan.
Duration, report and equipment
Duration
The exam usually takes 15 to 30 minutes, depending on whether an injection is given.
Report turnaround
Report within 48 hours. In an emergency, during opening hours, the report is handed over immediately.
Equipment
GE SIGNA Prime 1.5 T
When is this exam needed?
- Hearing loss affecting one ear more than the other, or sudden hearing loss.
- Persistent tinnitus (buzzing, whistling) on one side only.
- Vertigo with hearing symptoms, as advised by the ENT specialist.
- Peripheral facial paralysis with an unusual course.
- Assessment before a cochlear implant, or inner ear malformation in a child.
- Follow-up of a known neuroma, or checking for recurrence of a cholesteatoma after surgery.
How the exam is done
Hearing aids are removed before you enter the room: they must never come near the magnet. To guide you despite this, the team agrees on simple signals with you, and you keep the call button in your hand. You then lie on your back, with your head in the center of the head coil. Even if your hearing is poor, earplugs or headphones are put on to protect your hearing, because the noise of the machine is still loud.
The thin-slice sequences are sensitive to the slightest movement: keep your head perfectly still and avoid swallowing while they are running. Depending on the clinical question, the exam is done without an injection or is completed with images after gadolinium. You can put your hearing aids back on as soon as you leave the room.
Preparation
- Remove hearing aids, hair clips and earrings.
- Bring your recent audiogram (the chart of your hearing).
- If your hearing loss makes it hard to understand instructions, tell us: the team will adapt the way it communicates with you.
- Tell us about claustrophobia when you book your appointment.
Fasting
No fasting is needed, even if an injection is planned.
Contrast injection
Gadolinium is not always useful: a very thin-slice sequence often shows the nerves without contrast. It is added depending on the indication, for example to characterize a lesion, and is injected into a vein in the arm.
Contraindications and precautions
- Cochlear implant or hearing implant with a magnet: contraindication or special protocol depending on the model; tell us when you book.
- Implanted pacemaker, defibrillator or neurostimulator: the exam is possible only with an MRI-compatible model.
- Middle ear prosthesis (surgery for otosclerosis): usually compatible; mention it and bring the surgical report.
- Metal fragment, old vascular clip or implanted pump.
- Insulin pump or glucose sensor (such as FreeStyle Libre): to be removed before the exam. Bring what you need to replace it or put it back afterwards.
- Current or possible pregnancy: please tell us. MRI is performed only if it is necessary, preferably after the first trimester, and without gadolinium unless absolutely necessary.
- Breastfeeding: please tell us. It is generally not necessary to stop breastfeeding after a gadolinium injection.
- Severe kidney failure, before a gadolinium injection.
Documents to bring
- Prescription and letter from the ENT specialist
- Audiogram and any balance tests (videonystagmography)
- Previous temporal bone CT scans or MRIs
- Surgical report if you have had ear surgery
- Cochlear implant or middle ear implant card, if applicable
- List of medications and insurance or mutual insurance fund card
Price and insurance coverage
The price of an ear and internal auditory canal MRI varies depending on whether gadolinium is added, a decision based on the indication, for example to characterize a lesion.
The center accepts coverage from insurance companies and the main mutual insurance funds. You submit the coverage request to your insurer or fund yourself. For AtlantaSanad and Sanlam, the center takes care of it.
No prices are shown on this site: Kenza gives you the exact price on WhatsApp, along with the coverage procedure for your situation.
Frequently asked questions
Can the MRI noise make my hearing loss or tinnitus worse?
With properly fitted hearing protection, this risk is very low. Earplugs or headphones greatly reduce the noise. Some people feel temporary discomfort from their tinnitus after the exam, which usually goes away quickly. Tell the team if you are very sensitive to noise.
Why an MRI for a symptom on one side only?
When only one ear is affected, the doctor wants to rule out a lesion of the auditory nerve, in particular a neuroma. These lesions are rare and most often benign, but MRI is the exam that shows them most clearly, even when they are small.
How is it different from a temporal bone CT scan?
A CT scan shows the bones of the ear: the ossicles, the petrous bone and the external ear canal. MRI shows the fluids of the inner ear and the nerves. For chronic ear infection or conductive hearing loss, a CT scan is often requested; for inner ear hearing loss or vertigo, MRI is usually preferred.
I have Ménière's disease: is this the right exam?
An MRI of the internal auditory canals can look for another cause of the symptoms. To show hydrops (excess fluid in the inner ear), a specific protocol with delayed images after injection is needed, to be specified when you book. Check with your ENT specialist what has been prescribed.
Ear and Internal Auditory Canal MRI in Casablanca: how much does it cost?
The price of an ear and internal auditory canal MRI varies depending on whether gadolinium is added, a decision based on the indication, for example to characterize a lesion. The center accepts coverage from insurance companies and the main mutual insurance funds. No prices are shown on this site: Kenza gives you the exact price on WhatsApp, along with the coverage procedure for your situation.