3D-FLAIR MRI findings in patients with low-tone sudden deafness.
CONCLUSIONS
The findings suggest that alterations in the composition of inner ear fluid play important roles in the development of low-tone sudden deafness (LTSD). High-intensity signals on three-dimensional fluid attenuated inversion recovery (3D-FLAIR) may reflect an increased concentration of protein in the inner ear due to the increased permeability of blood vessels. Disordered blood flow in the inner ear is associated with an increased permeability of the blood-labyrinth barrier. Therefore, the disordered blood flow in the cochlea may be closely related to the pathophysiological mechanisms of LTSD.


OBJECTIVE
The 3D-FLAIR sequence has been used to detect alterations in the composition of inner ear fluid. The purpose of this study was to report imaging findings in cases of LTSD.


METHODS
3D-FLAIR magnetic resonance imaging was performed in five women with nonrecurrent-type LTSD.


RESULTS
Three of the five patients (60%) showed high-intensity signals in the cochlear basal turn on precontrast 3D-FLAIR. Postcontrast enhancement was not prominent in any patient. In patient 1, the cochlea of the unaffected side showed high-intensity signals. No patients had such signals in the vestibulae or the semicircular canals.
Tanigawa
Tohru
T
Department of Otolaryngology, Aichi Medical University, Aichi, Japan. tanigawa@aichi-med-u.ac.jp
Tanaka
Hirokazu
H
Sato
Takashi
T
Nakao
Yoshio
Y
Katahira
Nobuyuki
N
Tsuchiya
Yoshimasa
Y
Nonoyama
Hiroshi
H
Ueda
Hiromi
H
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D002199:Capillary Permeability / Q000502:physiology; D003051:Cochlea / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D003639:Hearing Loss, Sudden / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D003287:Contrast Media; D011239:Prednisolone; D006854:Hydrocortisone