CT of the ear in Pendred syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To prospectively determine the structural anomalies of the inner ear by using thin-section computed tomography (CT) in an extended family with Pendred syndrome.


METHODS
Ethics committee approved the study, and informed consent was obtained from every patient or from parents of patients under legal age. Twelve patients (three females and nine males aged 7-47 years) with Pendred syndrome (all from the same ethnic isolate and with the same mutation in the PDS gene) were evaluated for inner-ear malformation at thin-section CT. Both ears were evaluated. Presence or absence of interscalar septum between upper and middle turns of the cochlea was evaluated, and vestibule and vestibular aqueduct were examined for enlargement. Modiolus was determined to be present or absent (modiolar deficiency). CT scans were evaluated in consensus by two radiologists (M.G., J.M.G.).


RESULTS
All patients had inner ear malformation on both sides. Modiolus was absent and vestibule was enlarged on both sides in all 12 patients. Interscalar septum was absent in 18 (75%) of 24 ears. In eight patients, interscalar septum was absent in both ears, whereas in two patients, it was absent on only one side. Aqueduct was enlarged in 20 (80%) of 24 ears. In nine patients, both ears had enlarged aqueducts, while in two patients, only one side was abnormal.


CONCLUSIONS
Inner ear malformation is an invariable finding in Pendred syndrome. Modiolus deficiency and vestibular enlargement were the most consistent anomalies in this population with Pendred syndrome.
Goldfeld
Moshe
M
Departments of Radiology and Internal Medicine, Western Galilee Hospital, Nahariya 22100, Israel. goldme1@yahoo.com
Glaser
Benjamin
B
Nassir
Elias
E
Gomori
John Moshe
JM
Hazani
Elitsur
E
Bishara
Nassir
N
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002872:Chromosome Deletion; D002897:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 7; D003053:Cochlear Duct / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D003638:Deafness / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000235:genetics*; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D005808:Genes, Recessive; D006044:Goiter, Nodular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000076988:Sulfate Transporters; D013577:Syndrome; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014723:Vestibular Aqueduct / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; C085609:SLC26A4 protein, human; D000076988:Sulfate Transporters