title: Chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency in Ménière disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to focus on patients suffering from cochleo-vestibular disorder with and without Ménière disease (MD) in order to verify whether chronic cerebrospinal drainage abnormalities could play a role in the etiopathogenesis of endolymphatic hydrops.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-two volunteers were enrolled and subdivided into two groups: 24 definite MD and 28 not-MD. Both magnetic resonance venography imaging with contrast-enhanced imaging of the venous cerebrospinal system (MRV) and venous echo-color Doppler (ECD) were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MRV showed abnormalities in 83% of MD and 57% of not-MD subjects (p < 0.001). Asymmetrical cervical venous flow, assessed by MRV, was confirmed by ECD in 62.5% of MD but in only 21.5% of not-MD subjects (p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency might be the anatomical background, which provides a predisposing factor for the development of endolymphatic hydrops in MD patients.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche e di Comunità, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy Audiology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy federica.diberardino@unimi.it.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Di Berardino
authors.affiliation: ENT-Otoneurology Service, Scientific Institute S. Maria Nascente, Don C. Gnocchi Foundation, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Dario Carlo
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Alpini
authors.affiliation: Directory Board of the Italian College of Phlebology - Medick-Up Vascular Surgery and Angiology Lab, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Pietro Maria
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Bavera
authors.affiliation: Radiology and Neuroradiology Imaging Service, Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cecconi
authors.affiliation: Radiology and Neuroradiology Imaging Service, Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Farabola
authors.affiliation: ENT-Otoneurology Service, Scientific Institute S. Maria Nascente, Don C. Gnocchi Foundation, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mattei
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche e di Comunità, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy Audiology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ambrosetti
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche e di Comunità, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy Audiology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cesarani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001401:Azygos Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002550:Cerebral Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015834:Cochlear Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D018159:Endolymphatic Hydrops / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007601:Jugular Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D008575:Meniere Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000098:blood supply*; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015837:Vestibular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology
keywords: Chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency; Ménière disease; hearing loss; vertigo