Clinical features of sudden hearing loss associated with a high signal in the labyrinth on unenhanced T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging.
We report on five patients with high signals in the labyrinth on unenhanced magnetic resonance imaging who developed sudden hearing loss and vertigo. Weissman et al. (1992) suggested the possibility that such high signals were caused by hemorrhage. We assessed these patients using audiograms, caloric tests, and auditory brainstem responses to investigate the possibility of inner ear hemorrhage. Most of the patients were found to have severe and irreversible impairment of both cochlear and vestibular function. These findings were consistent with the hypothesis that their symptoms were caused by inner ear hemorrhage.
Shinohara
S
S
Department of Otolaryngology, Kobe City General Hospital, Kobe, Japan. sinosino@pop06.odn.ne.jp
Yamamoto
E
E
Saiwai
S
S
Tsuji
J
J
Muneta
Y
Y
Tanabe
M
M
Sakamoto
T
T
Kim
T
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D002150:Caloric Tests; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000473:pathology; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D003639:Hearing Loss, Sudden / Q000209:etiology*; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007759:Labyrinth Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008575:Meniere Disease / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged