title: Cochlear modiolus and lateral semicircular canal in sudden deafness.
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrated that precise analysis shows that the inner ear shape in sudden deafness (SD) is different from that in controls in that the fluid-filled area of SD labyrinths is significantly larger than that of controls. Reduced cochlear modiolus area and inner area of the lateral semicircular canal (LSCC) may be associated with insufficient maturation of the inner ear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to quantify the morphologies of the cochlea and LSCC using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to evaluate their relationships with clinical symptoms in SD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-six unilateral SD patients with vertigo, 26 unilateral SD patients without vertigo and a matched control group without hearing loss were studied. The areas of cochlear modioli and LSCCs were traced on the MRI console and compared between SD patients with or without vertigo and control subjects. The ratio of the LSCC fluid-filled area to the total LSCC area was used to index the degree of dysplasia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The cochlear modiolus area was significantly less in SD ears (4.1+/-0.2 mm2) than in controls (4.3+/-0.4 mm2). The LSCC inner area was significantly less in SD ears (6.9+/-1.7 mm2) than in controls (9.1+/-1.8 mm2). These results suggest that the fluid-filled area of SD labyrinths is significantly larger than controls. Morphology did not differ between affected and contralateral sides or between ears with or without vertigo in SD patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine 65, Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan. iishida@med.nagoya-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Ieda Maria
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Ishida
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sugiura
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Naganawa
authors.forename: Masaaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Teranishi
authors.forename: Tsutomu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakashima
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D003051:Cochlea / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003639:Hearing Loss, Sudden / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012665:Semicircular Canals / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014717:Vertigo / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology