3D MRI of the membranous labyrinth. An age related comparison of MR findings in patients with labyrinthine fibrosis and in persons without inner ear symptoms.
OBJECTIVE
We compared MRI of the membranous labyrinth in patients with chronic non-neoplastic inner ear disease and MR signs of labyrinthine fibrosis and controls depending on their age, in order to establish whether there were any MR differences regarding patient age groups, control age groups and between the patients and controls themselves.


METHODS
Clinical ENT examinations as well as a T2* weighted 3D CISS (Constructive Interference in Steady State) sequence with a slice thickness of 0.7 mm were performed. Our collective was subdivided as follows: 0-19 years (10 controls, 3 patients with chronic non-neoplastic inner ear disease), 20-49 years (55 controls, 8 patients), 50 years and older (40 controls, 22 patients). Detectability of labyrinthine structures (e.g. cochlea, vestibule, semicircular canals) and filling defects were evaluated.


RESULTS
In the 3 age-groups of the control collective no significant differences were observed in the membranous labyrinth. However differences concerning labyrinthine detectability emerged between controls and patients in both the 20-49 years and 50 years and older age groups. In the patient collective the 3 age groups showed no significant discrepancy in the mean number of lesions.


CONCLUSIONS
Filling defects of the membranous labyrinth on 3D CISS MR images are pathological even in older persons. We would therefore recommend high resolution T2* weighted MRI in the case of suspected labyrinthine fibrosis.
Institute of Diagnostic Radiology, University of Regensburg, Germany.
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P
Held
C
C
Fellner
F
F
Fellner
S
S
Graf
J
J
Seitz
J
J
Strutz
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003051:Cochlea / Q000473:pathology; D015834:Cochlear Diseases / Q000473:pathology; D003287:Contrast Media; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000473:pathology*; D004711:Endolymphatic Duct / Q000473:pathology; D004712:Endolymphatic Sac / Q000473:pathology; D005355:Fibrosis; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D007759:Labyrinth Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012665:Semicircular Canals / Q000473:pathology; D014717:Vertigo / Q000473:pathology; D015837:Vestibular Diseases / Q000473:pathology; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000473:pathology
D003287:Contrast Media