title: Assessment of middle-ear status during experimental otitis media using magnetic resonance imaging.
abstract: Magnetic resonance imaging has proved to be a useful tool for in vivo imaging of a variety of tissues. In this study, magnetic resonance imaging was applied to the middle ear of experimental animals with otitis media. Results showed that the presence and distribution of effusion within the middle-ear space could be readily determined. Moreover, following injection of gadolinium-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, a contrast agent, the inflamed middle-ear mucosa could be resolved. A comparison between magnetic resonance imaging and tympanometry with respect to the diagnosis of effusion showed that negative pressure tympanograms were equivocal (50% effusion) and that flat or normal tympanograms were in error in approximately 20% of the observations. These data document a role for magnetic resonance imaging in in vivo studies of the pathogenesis of otitis media with effusion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh (Pa) School of Medicine.
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Swarts
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Doyle
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Wolf
mesh_terms: D000158:Acoustic Impedance Tests; D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D002682:Chinchilla; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003287:Contrast Media; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000473:pathology*; D005682:Gadolinium; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006192:Haemophilus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae; D007089:Image Enhancement; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D005682:Gadolinium; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA