Contrast enhancement of the inner ear in magnetic resonance images taken at 10 minutes or 4 hours after intravenous gadolinium injection.
CONCLUSIONS
Contrast enhancement of the inner ear by three-dimensional fluid-attenuated inversion recovery magnetic resonance imaging (3D-FLAIR MRI) taken 4 h after intravenous gadolinium (Gd) injection was better than when taken at 10 min. Using heavily T2-weighted 3D-FLAIR MRI, visualization of endolymphatic hydrops (EH) was possible in the vestibule and the cochlea after a standard intravenous dose of Gd.


OBJECTIVE
To define a suitable time point for imaging Gd uptake in the inner ear acquired with heavily T2-weighted 3D-FLAIR MRI after standard intravenous Gd administration.


METHODS
Using a 3 Tesla MRI unit, heavily T2-weighted 3D-FLAIR MRI images were taken twice at approximately 10 min (conventional timing) and 4 h after intravenous gadodiamide (0.1 mmol/kg) injection in 10 patients with inner ear diseases including Ménière's disease.


RESULTS
The 4 h delay increased Gd enhancement of the 3D-FLAIR MRI images of the perilymphatic space in both symptomatic and asymptomatic ears. The increase in Gd enhancement was greater in symptomatic than in asymptomatic ears. Using this heavily T2-weighted 3D-FLAIR technique, EH was observed in both the cochlea and vestibule in images taken 4 h after the intravenous Gd injection.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan.
Rui
R
Sano
Masaaki
M
Teranishi
Masahiro
M
Yamazaki
Haruo
H
Isoda
Shinji
S
Naganawa
Michihiko
M
Sone
Mariko
M
Hiramatsu
Tadao
T
Yoshida
Hirokazu
H
Suzuki
Tsutomu
T
Nakashima
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003051:Cochlea / Q000473:pathology; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018159:Endolymphatic Hydrops / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000473:pathology
D003287:Contrast Media; C064925:gadodiamide; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA