Localization of the Vertical Part of the Facial Nerve in the High-Resolution Computed Tomography During Pediatric Cochlear Implantation.

BACKGROUND: This study proposed a classification of the vertical portion of the facial nerve (VPFN) location, incorporating the previous classifications regarding the posterior-to-anterior and medial-to-lateral dimensions. We also evaluated the implication of this proposed classification on the round window visibility during pediatric cochlear implantation (CI). METHODS: It was a retrospective multicenter observational cohort study. This study included 334 cases that underwent CI between 2015 and 2022 at multiple referral institutes. Two physicians evaluated the preoperative computed tomography images of 334 patients and determined the radiological type of the VPFN. These types were matched with intraoperative round window accessibility. RESULTS: The Spearman's correlation coefficient showed a strong correlation between the proposed VPFN type and the intraoperative round window visibility, as the P-value was <.001. CONCLUSION: This classification could provide the surgeon preoperatively with the precise location of the VPFN in the lateral-to-medial and posterior-to-anterior dimensions. Furthermore, this location classification of the VPFN was significantly correlated with intraoperative round window accessibility, with an accuracy of 90.42%. Therefore, types C and D were expected to have difficult accessibility into the round window, and more surgical interventions were needed to modify the posterior tympanotomy or use other approaches.

Radioclinical Assessment of Posterior Tympanotomy Difficulties during Ordinary Cochlear Implantation: A Prospective Case-Series Study.

OBJECTIVES: This study proposes a preoperative radiologic scoring system for predicting posterior tympanotomy (PT) and mastoidectomy-associated difficulties during cochlear implantation (CI). STUDY DESIGN: It was a prospective case-series study. SETTINGS: The included CI surgeries were performed at tertiary referral institutions from October 2022 to April 2023. SUBJECTS: We included 73 CI candidates performed via the PT approach. INTERVENTION: The proposed radiologic score, composed of 13 items, was fulfilled and evaluated before each CI surgery. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: We correlated this score with the intraoperative difficulty and surgical duration. RESULTS: The operation was straightforward in 42 patients with a score of 3.87 ± 1.72 and challenging in 31 patients with a score of 10.66 ± 1.73. The radiologic score was strongly correlated with the surgical difficulty and duration (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Our proposed radiologic score was a valid, reliable, and precise tool to predict intraoperative difficulty during cochlear implantation. Chorda-facial angle was the strongest predictor, significantly affecting the difficulty, surgical duration, and preoperative radiologic score. A score equal to or more than 7.5 was expected to be associated with surgical difficulty.

Validation of the radiological detection of the chorda-facial angle: impact on the round window accessibility during pediatric cochlear implantation.

OBJECTIVES: The facial recess, an essential landmark for the posterior tympanotomy approach, is limited by the facial nerve and the chorda tympani, with a complicated relationship. This study tried to find the most appropriate radiological method to evaluate the chorda-facial angle (CFA). We also checked the effect of this angle on the round window accessibility during cochlear implantation. METHODS: It was a retrospective study that included cochlear implant surgeries of 237 pediatric patients, from September 2016 to April 2021. Two physicians evaluated the CFA in the para-sagittal cut of the preoperative HRCT. The round window accessibility was assessed in the unedited surgery videos. RESULTS: The CFA ranged from 21° to 35° with a mean of 27.14 ± 3.5°. It was detected in all cases with a high agreement between the two CT reviewers' measurements. The CFA differed significantly between the accessible group and the group with difficult accessibility (p value < 0.001). Spearman's correlation coefficient revealed a strong correlation between the CFA and the intraoperative round accessibility. 25.5° was the best cutoff point; below this angle, difficult accessibility into the RW was expected, with high sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy CONCLUSIONS: Our study on a relatively large number of cases provided a precise, valid, reliable, and applicable method to evaluate the CFA in the HRCT scan. We found a significant-close relation between the CFA and the round window accessibility; the difficulty increased with a need for posterior tympanotomy modification when the angle decreased. KEY POINTS: • Radiological detection of the chorda-facial angle was always problematic, without a previous straightforward method in the literature. • We used the para-sagittal cut of the high-resolution CT scans to evaluate the CFA. This cut was beneficial to seeing the chorda tympani nerve in every examined case. There was a high agreement between the two CT reviewers' measurements. • Preoperative evaluation of the CFA in the HRCT accurately predicted the round window accessibility. Patients with CFA less than 25.5° were expected to have difficult accessibility into the round window during cochlear implantation.

The impact of adding platelet-rich plasma during fat graft myringoplasty for managing medium-sized tympanic membrane perforations: A prospective randomized case-control study.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of adding platelet-rich plasma (PRP) during FGM to close medium-sized TM perforations. METHODS: This prospective randomized case-control study was conducted from February 2017 to March 2022. We included 320 patients with a medium-sized TM perforation with inactive mucosal otitis media. Transcanal FGM managed all patients under general or local anesthesia according to the patient preference. According to PRP, patients were divided into two groups: the first with PRP (170 patients) and the other without PRP (150 patients). We evaluated the closure rate of both groups one month, six months, and one year after the surgery. Also, we assessed the audiological performance before and one year after the operation for the patients with a successful closure. RESULTS: The closure rate was 87.6 % in the first group and 72.7 % in the second group, with a statistically significant difference between both groups as the P-value, was 0.001. Successful closure of the ABG to <10 dB occurred in 95.3 % of group A and 90.8 % of group B without a statistically significant difference between both groups (P-value = 0.163). CONCLUSIONS: This prospective comparative study on a relatively large number of patients revealed that FGM effectively closed medium-sized TM perforations. It also significantly improved postoperative audiological performance in both groups. Adding PRP during the FGM enhanced the closure success and the healing process without recorded complications. We recommend using the PRP in the routine FGM for closing medium-sized TM perforations.

The Impact of COVID-19 on the Daily Life and Medical Practice of Otolaryngology Physicians

Abstract Introduction The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has made otolaryngologists more susceptible than their counterparts to its effect. Objective This study aimed to find if COVID-19 had a different impact on ear, nose, and throat (ENT) physicians' of various categories (residents, registrars, and consultants ) regarding many aspects of the quality of life (protection, training, financial, and psychological aspects). Methods We included 375 ENT physicians, of different categories (residents, registrars, and consultants), from 33 general hospitals and 26 university hospitals in Egypt. The study was conducted using a 20-item questionnaire with a response scale consisting of three categories: yes, no, and not sure. It covered infection control and personal protective equipment (PPE) usage; medical practice and safety; online consultation and telemedicine,; webinars and online lectures; COVID-19 psychological, financial, and quarantine period effects; and future expectations. Results The results of the questionnaire showed that COVID-19 had a statistically significant impact on the daily life of the responders. There were statistically significant differences among the three involved categories, based on their answers. Conclusion This study showed a statistically significant difference regarding the impact of COVID-19 on many aspects of the quality of life (protection, training, financial, and psychological aspects) of ENT physicians of various categories (residents, registrars, and consultants), and these effects may persist for a long time.

The Impact of COVID-19 on the Daily Life and Medical Practice of Otolaryngology Physicians.

Introduction The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has made otolaryngologists more susceptible than their counterparts to its effect. Objective This study aimed to find if COVID-19 had a different impact on ear, nose, and throat (ENT) physicians' of various categories (residents, registrars, and consultants ) regarding many aspects of the quality of life (protection, training, financial, and psychological aspects). Methods We included 375 ENT physicians, of different categories (residents, registrars, and consultants), from 33 general hospitals and 26 university hospitals in Egypt. The study was conducted using a 20-item questionnaire with a response scale consisting of three categories: yes, no, and not sure. It covered infection control and personal protective equipment (PPE) usage; medical practice and safety; online consultation and telemedicine,; webinars and online lectures; COVID-19 psychological, financial, and quarantine period effects; and future expectations. Results The results of the questionnaire showed that COVID-19 had a statistically significant impact on the daily life of the responders. There were statistically significant differences among the three involved categories, based on their answers. Conclusion This study showed a statistically significant difference regarding the impact of COVID-19 on many aspects of the quality of life (protection, training, financial, and psychological aspects) of ENT physicians of various categories (residents, registrars, and consultants), and these effects may persist for a long time.

The Impact of the Location of Chorda Tymapni Nerve Origin on the Round Window Accessibility During Pediatric Cochlear Implantation: A Radioclinical Assessment.

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the impact of the location of the chorda tympani nerve (CTN) origin on the round window (RW) accessibility during pediatric cochlear implantation (CI). We also tried to validate the radiologic method to measure the length between the origin of the CTN from the facial nerve to the stylomastoid foramen (CF-SM). STUDY DESIGN: It was a prospective observational case-series study. SETTINGS: The included CI surgeries were performed at tertiary referral institutions from November 2018 to August 2021. SUBJECTS: We included 146 pediatric patients who were candidates for CI. INTERVENTION: We measured the CF-SM length in the parasagittal cut of the preoperative high-resolution computed tomography. We also classified the intraoperative RW according to the accessibility through the ordinary posterior tympanotomy approach into accessible or inaccessible. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: We correlated the preoperative radiologic CF-SM length with the intraoperative RW accessibility. RESULTS: The radiologic CF-SM length ranged from 2.9 to 7.4 mm with a mean of 4.9 ± 1.03 mm. The RW was accessible in 107 patients and inaccessible in 39 patients. Spearman's correlation coefficient revealed a significant relationship between the location of CTN origin and the RW accessibility as the p value was less than 0.0001. CONCLUSIONS: We found a precise method to measure the CF-SM length in the parasagittal cut of the high-resolution computed tomography. We also found a significant impact of the location of the CTN origin on intraoperative RW accessibility. The radiologic CF-SM length of more than 5.4 mm had a powerful prediction capability of the RW inaccessibility.

A novel radiological method to evaluate the posterior tympanotomy depth for cochlear implantation: our experience in 257 patients.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to validate our novel proposed radiological evaluation of the posterior tympanotomy (PT) depth. This dimension represents the bone of the facial recess needed to be drilled to get access into the middle ear during cochlear implantation. METHODS: It was a retrospective observational study that included 257 patients who underwent cochlear implantation from July 2018 to April 2021 in tertiary referral institutions. Two physicians evaluated the preoperative HRCT to measure the PT depth in the oblique para-sagittal cut. On the other hand, two other physicians evaluated the unedited surgical videos to judge the PT depth and classified it into an ordinary PT or deep PT. Then, the preoperative radiological measurements were correlated with the intraoperative findings. RESULTS: The radiological PT depth ranged from 2.5 to 5.4 mm with a mean of 3.91 ± 0.886. Sixty-six patients had ordinary PT, and 191 patients had deep PT. Spearman's correlation coefficient revealed a strong correlation between the preoperative radiological PT depth measurements and the intraoperative PT depth judgments (p value < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: We created a novel radiological method to measure the posterior tympanotomy depth. This method was valid, reproducible, and reliable in the preoperative radiological evaluation of the PT depth with high sensitivity (91.71%), specificity (90.62%), and accuracy (91.44%). We also found a significant impact of the PT depth on the PT difficulty during cochlear implantation.

Radiological Analysis of the Facial Recess: Impact on Posterior Tympanotomy Difficulty During Pediatric Cochlear Implantation.

OBJECTIVES: We analyzed several radiological features of the facial recess to correlate them with the intraoperative findings to highlight the most reliable predictors of posterior tympanotomy difficulty. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective observational cohort study. SETTING: Multicenter study at tertiary referral institutions. METHODS: We included 184 pediatric patients who underwent cochlear implantation through the posterior tympanotomy approach. The correlation was attempted between 8 radiological features in the preoperative high-resolution computed tomography scan and intraoperative surgical difficulty. RESULTS: Posterior tympanotomy was straightforward in 136 (73.9%) patients. In contrast, it was challenging in 48 (26.1%) patients. The facial recess was aerated in 74.5% of patients. The mean (SD) posterior tympanotomy depth was 3.98 (0.867) mm. The mean (SD) chorda-facial angle was 27.67° (3.406°). The mean (SD) chorda-facial to stylomastoid length was 3.898 (0.6304) mm. The mean (SD) facial nerve second genu angle was 94.54° (6.631)°. Deep-unaerated facial recess wall was associated with the most difficulty. There was a statistically significant difference in the unchallenging and challenging posterior tympanotomy groups regarding the surgical duration (P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: According to this analytic study, the chorda-facial angle, the facial recess aeration, and the chorda-facial to stylomastoid length were respectively the strongest preoperative radiological predictors of the surgical difficulty of posterior tympanotomy during cochlear implantation. Chorda-facial angle <25.5° was associated with difficult posterior tympanotomy. The oblique parasagittal cut was essential for the radiological analysis of the facial recess.

Radiological classification of the mastoid portion of the facial nerve: impact on the surgical accessibility of the round window in cochlear implantation.

BACKGROUND: Mastoid portion of the facial nerve plays an important role in the round window approach of cochlear implantation. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to predict the anterior displacement of the mastoid portion of the facial nerve in the preoperative HRCT coronal cuts. We also aimed to detect the implication of anterior displacement of MPFN on the R.W. accessibility through the posterior tympanotomy during cochlear implantation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: It was a retrospective observational cohort study in tertiary referral hospitals. We included 246 pediatric patients who underwent cochlear implantation due to bilateral severe to profound SNHL through a posterior tympanotomy approach. RESULTS: Type I MPFN was present in 84 cases, type II MPFN was present in 149 patients, and type III MPFN was present in 13 cases. R.W. was inaccessible in 3 cases with MPFN type II and in 11 subjects with MPFN type III. There was a statistically significant difference regarding the R.W. accessibility between the three types of MPFN (p-value <.05). There was a strong statistically significant correlation between R.W. accessibility and the radiological type of the MPFN. CONCLUSION: Mandour radiological classification of the mastoid portion of the facial nerve in the preoperative HRCT coronal offers an easily applicable method to detect the anterior displacement of the facial nerve by using easy and well-known landmarks. This classification can also predict R.W. accessibility through posterior tympanotomy during cochlear implantation with 97.97% accuracy.

Correlation of Preoperative Computerized Tomography Scoring System and the Surgical Encounters in Cochlear Implantation.

OBJECTIVE: To propose a numerical radiological scoring system of the pre-operative high-resolution computed tomography scan aiming to predict the surgical difficulty during cochlear implantation. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 272 pediatric patients who underwent cochlear implantation in 3 tertiary referral centers from April 2017 to August 2019. The correlation was attempted between our proposed scoring system (consisting of 8 radiological features) and the intraoperative surgical difficulty both objectively and subjectively. RESULTS: our proposed scoring system showed a statistically significant correlation with surgical difficulty and also the duration of surgery. Scoring 5 or more predicted the surgical difficulty with a sensitivity of 80.85% and a specificity of 92.13%. The absence of air cells around the facial recess was the most independent predictor of difficulty (P value = .002). CONCLUSION: This proposed radiological scoring system is a simple reliable method to predict the difficulty which we may encounter during CI surgery. Scoring of 5 or more would predict intraoperative difficulty as opposed to less scoring which would predict a straightforward surgery.

Arabic Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Validation of Health-Related Quality of Life Measures for Chronic Otitis Media (COMQ-12).

OBJECTIVE: Our study aimed to translate the chronic otitis media questionnaire-12 (COMQ-12) into the Arabic language, evaluate the internal consistency of the test and test-retest reliability, and validate the adaptation for further use in Arabic studies. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective observation monocenter cohort study. SETTINGS: This study was done at Kafrelsheikh University Hospital, Egypt. PATIENTS: One hundred twenty five ear pathology-free patients were asked to complete the questionnaire forming group A. One hundred twenty five patients with different forms of COM completed the questionnaire 2 weeks before the planned ear surgery and the same day of the operation, forming group B. Those patients who underwent the ear surgery, completed the questionnaire again 6 months after the operation forming group C. INTERVENTION: We did an Arabic forward and backward translation of the original COMQ-12. The patients in group B underwent ear surgery (tympanoplasty with or without mastoidectomy). After fulfilling the questionnaire in different groups, we assessed the psychometric properties of the Arabic version of COMQ-12: internal consistency, reliability, reproducibility, validity, and responsiveness. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Cronbach's α was 0.973. The Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was 0.981, while the Intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.973. RESULTS: A statistically significant difference was present between group A (average total score 2.38 ±â€Š1.543) and group B (average total score 35.86 ±â€Š5.98). Also, there was a statistically significant difference between group B and group C (average total score 7.46 ±â€Š8.294). The calculated cut-off point of the total score was more than or equal to eight. CONCLUSION: The cross-culturally Arabic adaptation of COMQ-12 was reliable, valid with strong internal consistency and responsiveness. It can detect the significant effect of COM on the quality of life of Arabic patients. This effect would be improved obviously after surgical management that markedly enhanced the preoperative hearing problem.

Thyroid chondroplastic flap for resection of laryngoceles.

PURPOSE: Large and combined laryngoceles usually need an external approach. One difficulty in such approach was the dissection at the paraglottic space. To overcome such difficulty, a thyroid chondroplastic flap approach to the paraglottic space was designed. METHODS: This study is a case series of thirty consecutive patients (24 men and six women with an average age of 45.6 years), having large combined laryngocele resected externally between January 1995 and December 2019) at the department of ORL_HNS Tanta University, Egypt. RESULTS: This approach allowed for excellent exposure of the paraglottic space, facilitating complete resection. Complications included perichondrial tearing in five patients, obstructing hematoma in two patient and minimal edema in four patients. CONCLUSIONS: Thyroid chondroplastic flap is an excellent and safe approach for the paraglottic space facilitating complete resection of large laryngoceles.

Iatrogenic facial nerve exposure in cochlear implant surgery: incidence and clinical significance in the absence of intra-operative nerve monitoring.

Objectives: Iatrogenic facial nerve injury is one of the most feared complications of cochlear implantation. Intraoperative facial nerve monitoring is used as an adjunctive modality in a variety of neurotologic surgeries including cochlear implantation. With the lack of nerve monitoring, there is a theoretically higher risk of iatrogenic fallopian canal dehiscence with facial nerve exposure, particularly the mastoid portion, during cochlear implant surgery. The purpose of this study is to determine the incidence of iatrogenic exposure of the facial nerve and its relation to the incidence of post-operative facial paralysis in the absence of facial nerve monitoring. Methods: This was a retrospective study. Medical charts of 307 patients who underwent cochlear implantation without facial nerve monitoring, from 2012 to 2017 were reviewed to identify cases with a reported iatrogenic defect over the mastoid facial nerve. The incidence of post-operative facial palsy was determined and compared to the incidence with the use of intra-operative monitoring which has been reported in the literature. Results: The incidence of iatrogenic dehiscence with facial nerve exposure was 46.58%. However, the incidence of post-operative facial palsy was only 2.1% which decreased to 0.72% in cases without injury of the facial neural sheath. This was not significantly different from the 0.73% rate reported in the literature with the use of intra-operative facial monitoring (P = 0.99). Conclusion: The incidence of iatrogenic facial nerve exposure during cochlear implantation may be relatively high. However, no additional risk of post-operative facial nerve paralysis was found, provided that the integrity of the neural sheath was preserved, even with the lack of intra-operative monitoring.

Surgeon Oriented Preoperative Radiologic Evaluation in Cochlear Implantation - Our experience with a Proposed Checklist.

Introduction Preoperative temporal bone imaging studies have been routinely performed prior to cochlear implantation. Radiologists need to report these examinations with special focus on the surgeon's expectations. Objectives To provide a basic structured format, in the form of a checklist, for reporting preoperative computed tomography (CT) and to its clinical impact on operative findings. Methods The preoperative temporal bone CT scans of 47 patients were analyzed and reported according to the proposed checklist. Intraoperative assessment of mastoidectomy, posterior tympanotomy and round window access was done by the surgeon in a blinded fashion and were correlated with the radiological findings to assess its significance. Results The proposed radiological checklist was reliable in assessing operative difficulty during cochlear implantation. Contracted mastoid and lower tegmen position were associated with a greater difficulty of the cortical mastoidectomy. Presence of an air cell around the facial nerve (FN) was predictive of easier facial recess access exposure. Facial nerve location and posterior external auditory canal (EAC) wall inclination were predictive of difficult round window (RW) accessibility. Conclusion Certain parameters on the preoperative temporal bone CT scan may be useful in predicting potential difficulties encountered during the key steps involved in cochlear implant surgery.

Platelet-Rich Plasma Fat Graft versus Cartilage Perichondrium for Repair of Medium-Size Tympanic Membrane Perforations.

OBJECTIVES: To compare clinical and audiologic outcomes among patients who underwent myringoplasty with fat graft enriched with platelet-rich plasma and cartilage perichondrium graft. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective randomized controlled study. SETTING: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tanta University, Egypt. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study comprised 50 patients who had tympanic membrane perforation of medium size (25%-50% of its surface area) without evidence of active otitis media or ossicular abnormalities and who had surgery between December 2016 and December 2017. Patients randomly underwent myringoplasty with fat graft enriched with platelet-rich plasma (group 1) or cartilage perichondrium graft (group 2). RESULTS: Twenty-five patients were included in each group. Rates of successful closure at 3-month follow-up were 88% (group 1) and 92% (group 2). The mean overall improvement in pure tone average was 18.08 dB (95% CI, 16.9-19.25) for group 1 and 18.24 dB (95% CI, 16.94-19.53) for group 2. CONCLUSION: Fat graft enriched with platelet-rich plasma can be recommended as an alternative choice for first-line treatment of medium-size central perforations of the tympanic membrane, with healing and hearing results comparable to those of conventional cartilage perichondrium myringoplasty.

Surgeon oriented preoperative radiologic evaluation in cochlear implantation - our experience with a proposed checklist

Introduction: Preoperative temporal bone imaging studies have been routinely performed prior to cochlear implantation. Radiologists need to report these examinations with special focus on the surgeon's expectations. Objectives: To provide a basic structured format, in the form of a checklist, for reporting preoperative computed tomography (CT) and to its clinical impact on operative findings. Methods: The preoperative temporal bone CT scans of 47 patients were analyzed and reported according to the proposed checklist. Intraoperative assessment of mastoidectomy, posterior tympanotomy and round window access was done by the surgeon in a blinded fashion and were correlated with the radiological findings to assess its significance. Results: The proposed radiological checklist was reliable in assessing operative difficulty during cochlear implantation. Contracted mastoid and lower tegmen position were associated with a greater difficulty of the cortical mastoidectomy. Presence of an air cell around the facial nerve (FN) was predictive of easier facial recess access exposure. Facial nerve location and posterior external auditory canal (EAC) wall inclination were predictive of difficult round window (RW) accessibility. Conclusion: Certain parameters on the preoperative temporal bone CT scan may be useful in predicting potential difficulties encountered during the key steps involved in cochlear implant surgery (AU)

Evaluation of Adding Lidocaine to Dexamethasone in the Intra-tympanic Injection for Management of Tinnitus: A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Double-blinded Trial.

OBJECTIVES: Assessment of adding lidocaine to dexamethasone in the intratympanic injections for the treatment of subjective idiopathic tinnitus (SIT). METHOD: A prospective, controlled, randomized, double-blind study of forty-four patients with SIT diagnosed in the Department of Otolaryngology, Tanta University Hospital, a tertiary academic medical centre from March 2015 to October 2016. 44 patients were recruited in the study and were categorized into two groups; (A) included 22 patients managed with ITLD, and (B) included 22 patients managed with intratympanic postoperative ITD injection. Intratympanic injections were double-blind performed three times with one weak interval. After three and six months, the tinnitus improvement was studied using the following parameters: Arabic tinnitus questionnaires (ATQ), loudness matching test and Tinnitus handicap index (THI). RESULTS: The effectiveness rates of ITLD for idiopathic tinnitus reported in the ATQ, THI, and in the loudness matching test were 74.5% in the ITDL group and 50.0%, 50.5%, and 40.0% in the ITD group, respectively. Statistically, there was a significant difference between both groups in 6 months duration. CONCLUSION: ITLD seems to be effective for SIT than ITD alone. The indication of ITLD for tinnitus needs to be limited to specific cases of resistant medical treatment.

Predicting Round Window Visibility During Cochlear Implantation Using High Resolution CT Scan.

OBJECTIVES: To predict round window niche (RWN) visibility using high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the pre-surgical axial HRCT scan of 110 patients who underwent cochlear implantation and compared the CT visibility of RWN with the intraoperative findings by reviewing the operative notes and replaying the surgical video recording. The shape of RWN was determined using the HRCT slice with maximum RWN visibility. Accordingly, it was classified as the O-shaped or C-shaped RWN. Based on the surgical view, RWN visibility was classified as clearly visible or difficult to visualize. Radiological findings were correlated with the surgical view. RESULTS: Seventy-six cases (69%) showed clear RWN visibility; of them, 66 correlated with the HRCT finding C-shaped RWN. Of the other 34 cases (31%) with difficult RWN visualization, 26 correlated with the HRCT finding O-shaped RWN. The sensitivity and specificity of the HRCT finding in predicting the difficulty in visualization of RWN were 79.4% and 86.8%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The RWN shape on HRCT can be a simple and useful method in predicting RWN visibility through posterior tympanotomy approach in cochlear implantation.