Endolymphatic hydrops revealed by magnetic resonance imaging in patients with acute low-tone sensorineural hearing loss.
OBJECTIVE
Acute low-tone sensorineural hearing loss (ALHL) has been reported to be associated with endolymphatic hydrops (EHs). However, evaluation of the size of the endolymphatic space has not been reported. We attempted to visualize EH in ALHL using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).


METHODS
Prospective diagnostic study.


METHODS
University hospital.


METHODS
We evaluated 25 ears of 25 unilateral ALHL patients. Three-tesla MRI was obtained 24 hours after intratympanic injection of gadolinium (Gd) (n = 5) or 4 hours after intravenous injection of Gd (n = 20). A radiologist blinded to the patients' clinical data classified the degree of EH in the vestibule and cochlea into 3 groups: none, mild, and significant.


RESULTS
On the affected sides, cochlear EH was recognized in 23 ears (92%) and was classified as significant EH (n = 15) or mild EH (n = 8); vestibular EH was detected in 22 ears (88%), classified as significant EH (n = 16) or mild EH (n = 6). Cochlear EH was more frequently observed in the affected ear than in the contralateral ear (90% versus 40%, p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
In ALHL, EH was observed not only in the cochlea but also in the vestibule as in Ménière's disease.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan. marikos@med.nagoya-u.ac.jp
Mariko
M
Shimono
Masaaki
M
Teranishi
Tadao
T
Yoshida
Masahiro
M
Kato
Rui
R
Sano
Hironao
H
Otake
Ken
K
Kato
Michihiko
M
Sone
Naoki
N
Ohmiya
Shinji
S
Naganawa
Tsutomu
T
Nakashima
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001299:Audiometry; D003051:Cochlea / Q000473:pathology; D003287:Contrast Media; D018159:Endolymphatic Hydrops / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008575:Meniere Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000473:pathology
D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA