title: Blockage pattern of longitudinal flow in Meniere's disease.
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  In the present study, classification of the patterns of 3D CT images of the ductus reuniens (reuniting duct) (RD), saccular duct (SD), and endolymphatic sinus (ES) gave more precise information for assessing the pathological condition of Meniere's disease (MD) than our previous study.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study attempted to provide more detailed information on MD by classifying the patterns of 3D CT images of the RD, SD, and ES in patients with MD.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined the ears of 62 patients with definitely diagnosed unilateral MD based on the criteria of the Committee on Hearing and Equilibrium of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) using 3D CT. The 3D CT images of bony grooves of RD, SD, and ES (BRD, BSD, and BES) were classified into patterns according to aspects of their patency.
  
  
  RESULTS
  BRD could be classified into six types by assessing their patency defined using the criteria in this study. In the ears on the affected side of patients with MD, the BRD, BSD, and BES lost continuity in 3D CT images along their bony routes and were significantly different from normal healthy ears (p < 0.01). There were no significant differences among each stage of MD in the distributions of BRD and BES except for BSD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Sakurako
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takano
authors.forename: Hiroyoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Iguchi
authors.forename: Hiramori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sakamoto
authors.forename: Hideo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamane
authors.forename: Matti
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Anniko
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004710:Endolymph / Q000378:metabolism*; D018159:Endolymphatic Hydrops / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D008575:Meniere Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010037:Otolithic Membrane / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012444:Saccule and Utricle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods