title: Contrast enhancement of the cochlear aqueduct in MR imaging: its frequency and clinical significance.
abstract: There have been no previous reports on contrast enhancement of the cochlear aqueduct in magnetic resonance imaging. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the frequency and significance of this finding. Thirty-one patients (15 men and 16 women; age range 18-81 years) with otologic symptoms (sudden sensorineural hearing loss, vertigo, or tinnitus) were examined using contrast-enhanced imaging on a 1.5-T MR scanner. The normal ear served as the control. Two radiologists evaluated contrast enhancement in the area of the cochlear aqueduct. Forty-eight of 62 ears (77.4%) showed contrast enhancement of the cochlear aqueduct, but no significant differences in the frequency of contrast enhancement were observed between patients with and patients without vertigo, tinnitus, sensorineural hearing loss, cerebellopontine angle tumors, or a high-riding jugular bulb. In addition, no gender- or age-related differences were noted. Contrast enhancement of the cochlear aqueduct was frequently observed, but the frequency of enhancement in symptomatic ears was not significantly higher than in control ears. The results of this study may prove helpful in avoiding unnecessary examinations and potential diagnostic confusion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Nagoya University School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, 466-8550 Shouwa-ku, Nagoya, Japan. vzb02430@nifty.ne.jp
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Naganawa
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fukatsu
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sakurai
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Aoki
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ninomiya
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakashima
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishigaki
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003052:Cochlear Aqueduct / Q000473:pathology*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005260:Female; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D014717:Vertigo / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media