The use of high-frequency audiometry increases the diagnosis of asymptomatic hearing loss in pediatric patients treated with cisplatin-based chemotherapy

• Published in: Pediatric blood & cancer 2013-03, Vol.60 (3), p.474-478
• Main Authors: Abujamra, Ana Lucia, Escosteguy, Juliana Ribas, Dall'Igna, Celso, Manica, Denise, Cigana, Luciana Facchini, Coradini, Patrícia, Brunetto, André, Gregianin, Lauro José
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Antineoplastic Agents - adverse effects; Audiometry - methods; Child; Child, Preschool; cisplatin; Cisplatin - adverse effects; Female; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural - chemically induced; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural - diagnosis; Hematology; high-frequency audiometry; Humans; Male; Neoplasms - drug therapy; Oncology; ototoxicity; Pediatrics; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1545-5009; 1545-5017
• DOI: 10.1002/pbc.24236

Background Cisplatin may cause permanent cochlear damage by changing cochlear frequency selectivity and can lead to irreversible sensorineural hearing loss. High‐frequency audiometry (HFA) is able to assess hearing frequencies above 8,000 Hz; hence, it has been considered a high‐quality method to monitor and diagnose early and asymptomatic signs of ototoxicity in patients receiving cisplatin. Procedure Forty‐two pediatric patients were evaluated for hearing loss induced by cisplatin utilizing HFA, and its diagnostic efficacy was compared to that of standard pure‐tone audiometry and distortion‐product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs). The patient population consisted of those who signed an informed consent form and had received cisplatin chemotherapy between 1991 and 2008 at the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre Pediatric Unit, Brazil. Results Forty‐two patients were evaluated. The median age at study assessment was 14.5 years (range 4–37 years). Hearing loss was detected in 24 patients (57%) at conventional frequencies. Alterations of DPOAEs were found in 64% of evaluated patients and hearing loss was observed in 36 patients (86%) when high‐frequency test was added. The mean cisplatin dose was significantly higher (P = 0.046) for patients with hearing impairment at conventional frequencies. Conclusion The results suggest that HFA is more effective than pure‐tone audiometry and DPOAEs in detecting hearing loss, particularly at higher frequencies. It may be a useful tool for testing new otoprotective agents, beside serving as an early diagnostic method for detecting hearing impairment. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2013; 60: 474–478. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.