Isolated Internal Auditory Canal Diverticula: A Normal Anatomic Variant Not Associated with Sensorineural Hearing Loss

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Bony internal auditory canal diverticula are relatively common, occurring in approximately 5% of temporal bone CTs. Internal auditory canal diverticula have historically been considered incidental; however, a recent publication reported that internal auditory canal diverticula are associated with sensorineural hearing loss. The objective of this study was to further characterize this potential association in a large cohort of patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 1759 patients undergoing high-resolution temporal bone CT were collected during a 6-year interval, and audiometric data were obtained from those with internal auditory canal diverticula. To assess any association of isolated internal auditory canal diverticula with sensorineural hearing loss, we excluded from further analysis patients with concomitant otosclerosis and bilateral diverticula and those without audiometric data, leaving 22 index cases. Audiometric data for the ear with a diverticulum was compared with that in the contralateral ear, to serve as an internal control.

RESULTS: Of 1759 patients, 82 (4.7%) had either unilateral (n = 33, 40%) or bilateral (n = 49, 60%) internal auditory canal diverticula. The co-incidence of otosclerosis and internal auditory canal diverticula was 34% (n = 28). There was no correlation between patient age and diverticulum size on either side. Among the index cases with isolated unilateral internal auditory canal diverticula and complete audiometric data, word recognition scores and the prevalence and severity of sensorineural hearing loss were not significantly different comparing the internal auditory canal diverticulum side to its contralateral control.

CONCLUSIONS: This study did not find a statistically significant association between ears with internal auditory canal diverticula and worsening sensorineural hearing loss or word recognition. Internal auditory canal diverticula most likely represent a normal anatomic variant in ears without otosclerosis.