LAUSR

High‐resolution images of the cochlea are used to develop atlases to extract anatomical features from low‐resolution clinical computed tomography (CT) images. We compare visualization and contrast of conventional absorption‐based micro‐CT to synchrotron radiation phase contrast imaging (SR‐PCI) images of whole unstained, nondecalcified human cochleae. Three cadaveric cochleae were imaged using SR‐PCI and micro‐CT. Images were visually compared and contrast‐to‐noise ratios (CNRs) were computed from n = 27 regions‐of‐interest (enclosing soft tissue) for quantitative comparisons. Three‐dimensional (3D) models of cochlear internal structures were constructed from SR‐PCI images using a semiautomatic segmentation method. SR‐PCI images provided superior visualization of soft tissue microstructures over conventional micro‐CT images. CNR improved from 7.5 ± 2.5 in micro‐CT images to 18.0 ± 4.3 in SR‐PCI images (p < 0.0001). The semiautomatic segmentations yielded accurate reconstructions of 3D models of the intracochlear anatomy. The improved visualization, contrast and modelling achieved using SR‐PCI images are very promising for developing atlas‐based segmentation methods for postoperative evaluation of cochlear implant surgery.