Potential cause of positional vertigo in Ménière's disease.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the incidence of deposits in the semicircular canals between the temporal bones with Ménière's disease and normal controls and to investigate the relationship between the incidence of deposits and the symptoms of positional vertigo, often seen in patients with Ménière's disease.


METHODS
Retrospective histopathologic human temporal bone study.


METHODS
Twenty-two temporal bones from 11 patients with bilateral Ménière's disease, 28 from 14 with unilateral and 50 age-matched normal temporal bones from 30 individuals were histopathologically examined. Medical records were reviewed for clinical history of positional vertigo and duration of disease.


RESULTS
Significant differences were found in the incidence of cupular and free-floating deposits in the posterior semicircular canals between temporal bones with and without Ménière's disease. The incidence of free-floating deposits in the lateral semicircular canals was significantly higher in cases with unilateral Ménière's disease compared with controls. The incidence of these deposits was associated with the duration of disease rather than with aging. All 5 patients with positional vertigo (3 of 11 patients of bilateral Ménière's disease and 2 of 14 of unilateral) had free-floating deposits in at least 1 semicircular canal.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest a possible causative relationship between cupular and free-floating deposits in the semicircular canals and the symptom of positional vertigo in patients with Ménière's disease.
Morita
Norimasa
N
Department of Otolaryngology, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki, Japan.
Cureoglu
Sebahattin
S
Nomiya
Shigenobu
S
Nomiya
Rie
R
Joglekar
Shruti S
SS
Harada
Tamotsu
T
Paparella
Michael M
MM
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D006652:Histological Techniques; D006801:Humans; D008575:Meniere Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012665:Semicircular Canals / Q000473:pathology; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors; D014717:Vertigo / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology