Supplementary Material for: Automated Whole Cochlear T2 Signal Demonstrates Weak Correlation with Hearing Loss in Observed Vestibular Schwannoma

Introduction: We sought to evaluate the correlation between whole cochlear T2 signal changes obtained with a novel automated segmentation method and hearing levels, both at diagnosis and over time, in patients with observed vestibular schwannoma. Methods: This retrospective correlation study within an academic medical center neurotology practice evaluated 127 patients with vestibular schwannoma observed over time, each with ≥2 MRI scans (367 total) and ≥2 audiograms (472 total). 86 patients had T2-weighted sequences with sufficient resolution for cochlear signal analysis, yielding 348 unique timepoint intervals. The main outcome measure was correlation of the ipsilateral-to-contralateral ratio of whole cochlear T2 signal with hearing outcomes as measured by pure tone average (PTA) and word recognition score (WRS). Results: Whole cochlear T2 signal ratios did not show a correlation with hearing levels at diagnosis. Change in signal ratio over time showed weak correlation with changes in PTA, but not WRS, over time. Cochlear signal ratio did not precede changes in hearing but did follow changes in both PTA and WRS. Conclusion: Whole cochlear T2 signal ratios were weakly correlated with changes in hearing in patients with observed vestibular schwannoma. The technology of automated segmentation and signal processing holds promise for future evaluation of clinical entities causing cochlear signal changes.

引言：本研究旨在评估采用新型自动分割方法获取的全耳蜗T2信号变化，与长期随访观察的前庭神经鞘瘤患者在确诊时及随病程推移的听力水平之间的相关性。方法：本研究为开展于某学术医疗中心耳神经学诊疗团队的回顾性相关性研究，共纳入127例长期随访观察的前庭神经鞘瘤患者，所有患者均完成≥2次磁共振成像（Magnetic Resonance Imaging，MRI）扫描（总计367次）与≥2次听力图检测（总计472次）。其中86例患者的T2加权序列分辨率满足耳蜗信号分析要求，共获得348个独立时间点间隔。本研究的主要结局指标为全耳蜗T2信号同侧/对侧比值与以纯音听阈均值（Pure Tone Average，PTA）及言语识别率（Word Recognition Score，WRS）评估的听力结局之间的相关性。结果：全耳蜗T2信号比值与患者确诊时的听力水平无显著相关性。随时间推移的信号比值变化与PTA的变化呈弱相关，但与WRS的变化无明显关联。耳蜗信号比值变化并未先于听力改变出现，而是滞后于PTA与WRS的变化。结论：在长期随访观察的前庭神经鞘瘤患者中，全耳蜗T2信号比值与听力变化呈弱相关。自动分割与信号处理技术有望为未来评估引发耳蜗信号变化的临床疾病提供新的研究手段。