The results in these patients suggest that cochlear implantation improves hearing abilities in people with single-sided deafness and is superior to the alternative treatment options. The use of the CI does not interfere with speech understanding in the normal hearing ear. Our data suggest that the binaural integration of electric and acoustic stimulation is possible even with unilateral normal hearing.

This report presents the first evidence of successful binaural rehabilitation with CI in a relatively large patient cohort and the advantages over (Bi)CROS and BCI in smaller subgroups, thus confirming the indication for CI treatment. Moreover, patients with long-term acquired deafness (>10 years) show a benefit from the CI comparable to that observed in patients with shorter-term deafness.

Munich: Karger, 1991. $64.75: pp 244. The diagnostic potential of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for breast diseases was investigated soon after clinical imagers were developed. Primarily because of the substantial overlap in signal intensity and relaxation times between malignant and benign lesions, enthusiasm initially raised by the earlier studies rapidly waned. An important study by Sylvia Heywang, MD, and associates in 1985 revived interest in MR imaging of the breast. They showed that gadopentetate dimeglumine, by marked and selective enhancement, allowed differentiation of carcinoma from dysplasia and scar tissue. After her pioneering work, the application of MR imaging in the diagnosis of breast cancer has steadily increased. Although a number of investigators have contributed to the recent surge of publications, Heywang remains the leading expert, with more than 700 studies to her credit. Through this excellent book, she shares her immense knowledge and extensive experience in MR imaging of the breast.The book is divided into five sections. The first section summarizes the current state of breast imaging and succinctly discusses the strengths and limitations of the routinely used diagnostic modalities. In the second section, useful details on the positioning of patients and improving techniques for breast imaging are provided. More important, this section describes a method for MR imaging-guided biopsy that was previously published in the German language. In the third section, salient MR imaging features of various breast lesions are described and correlated with the findings of other modalities. This section is also a guide in the identification of artifacts and in the interpretation of ambiguities concerning the magnitude, rate, and pattern of signal enhancement after gadopentetate dimeglumine administration. Also discussed are the time-dependent changes in MR signal that are induced by surgery and radiation therapy. Inclusion of images depicting chemotherapy-induced alterations would have been appropriate in this section, particularly for demonstrating the potential application of MR imaging in the evaluation of tumor response to therapy. The last two sections describe the indications and possible future developments in MR imaging of the breast.Images, mostly acquired at 0.35 and 1 .O T, are of high quality. Careful labeling, correlations with mammographic. sonographic, and histopathologic findings, and detailed legends enhance the clarity and value of the book. All images were acquired in the transaxial plane. Inclusion of some sagittal and coronal images would have been helpful in demonstrating the value of the multiplanar capability of MR imaging in the delineation and volume estimation of lesions. However, the superiority of MR imaging in detecting recurrences, especially in dense breasts and those with silicone implants, has been demonstrated in several images. Besides more than 250 images, the book contains figures that illustrate the use of signal enhancement rate in differentiating variou...

Cochlear size and shape is variable, and the measured data of this study confirm the finding of other researchers. This study established two heights by two different planes to achieve a three-dimensional understanding of the cochlea. The electrode array was more likely to dislocate in cochleae with smaller diameter and smaller height. It can be assumed that the height established in this study seems to be a new preoperative parameter to underline the risk of scalar dislocation and not favored scala vestibuli insertion if using a cochleostomy approach. In conclusion, cochlear size, especially the height, is influencing the final position of the electrode array. Using preoperative scans of the cochlear diameters and cochlear height, a next step to custom-sized arrays is available.

Eight of ten children use their cochlear implant consistently on a daily basis. Two children who were equipped with an implanted device at a later age tend to nonuse of the device. The evaluation of binaural hearing in small children is still difficult and methods have to be developed to allow objective assessment.