Objective: To evaluate the postnatal growth of mastoid air cells and facial recess and the implications for cochlear implantation in very young children.
Method: Thirty-two pediatric cochlear implant recipients younger than three years were enrolled in this study. Before implantation, pneumatized mastoid and facial recess were measured by high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and compared with direct anatomical measurement in implantation.
Result: We found the similar result in two measurements. All recipients had facial recess and there was no significant difference of the volume between the recipients in this study and the children in another group who were older than seven years old (P >0.05). The size of pneumatized mastoid was significantly different between recipients younger than 16 months and those older (P <0.05).
Conclusion: (1) HRCT is very clinically valuable in making accurate diagnosis and surgical plan. (2) The facial recess is already adult size in children younger than three years old. (3) The size of pneumatized mastoid may affect mastoidectomy in cochlear implantation in very young children.