Comparison of the diagnostic value of 3 T MRI after intratympanic injection of GBCA, electrocochleography, and the glycerol test in patients with Meniere's disease.
CONCLUSIONS
3 T MRI after intratympanic injection of gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA) is more useful for the diagnosis of endolymphatic hydrops compared with the glycerol test and electrocochleography (ECoG).


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between 3 T MRI after intratympanic injection of GBCA, the glycerol test, and ECoG in patients with Meniere's disease (MD).


METHODS
A total of 20 patients with MD were evaluated. Diluted gadodiamide (a gadolinium-based contrast agent) was administered to the bilateral tympanic cavity by injection through the tympanic membrane. After 24 h, the endolymphatic hydrops was evaluated by a 3.0 T MR scanner. To investigate cochlear hydrops, the glycerol test and ECoG were carried out in all patients.


RESULTS
A positive result was observed in 11 patients (55%) in the glycerol test and in 12 patients (60%) by ECoG. The incidence of positive findings when evaluating the same patients with both the glycerol test and ECoG increased to 75%. Nineteen of 20 (95%) patients showed positive results for 3 T MRI.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, 3-1-1 Asahi, Matsumoto, Japan.
Hisakuni
H
Fukuoka
Yutaka
Y
Takumi
Keita
K
Tsukada
Maiko
M
Miyagawa
Tomohiro
T
Oguchi
Hitoshi
H
Ueda
Masumi
M
Kadoya
Shin-ichi
S
Usami
D000200:Action Potentials; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001300:Audiometry, Evoked Response; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D005990:Glycerol; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D007267:Injections; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008575:Meniere Disease / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
D003287:Contrast Media; C064925:gadodiamide; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D005990:Glycerol