title: Clinical Application of 3D-FIESTA Image in Patients with Unilateral Inner Ear Symptom.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Unilateral auditory dysfunction such as tinnitus and hearing loss could be a warning sign of a retrocochlear lesion. Auditory brainstem response (ABR) and internal auditory canal magnetic resonance image (MRI) are suggested as novel diagnostic tools for retrocochlear lesions. However, the high cost of MRI and the low sensitivity of the ABR test could be an obstacle when assessing patients with unilateral ear symptoms. The purpose of this study was to introduce the clinical usefulness of three-dimensional fast imaging employing steady-state acquisition (3D-FIESTA) MRI in patients with unilateral ear symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred and fifty-three patients with unilateral tinnitus or unilateral hearing loss who underwent 3D-FIESTA temporal bone MRI as a screening test were enrolled. We reviewed the abnormal findings in the 3D-FIESTA images and ear symptoms using the medical records.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In patients with unilateral ear symptoms, 51.0% of the patients had tinnitus and 32.8% patients were assessed to have sudden sensory neural hearing loss. With 3D-FIESTA imaging, twelve patients were diagnosed with acoustic neuroma, four with enlarged vestibular aqueduct syndrome, and two with posterior inferior cerebellar artery aneurysm. Inner ear anomalies and vestibulocochlear nerve aplasia could be diagnosed with 3D-FIESTA imaging.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  3D-FIESTA imaging is a highly sensitive method for the diagnosis of cochlear or retrocochlear lesions. 3D-FIESTA imaging is a useful screening tool for patients with unilateral ear symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Jung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Min
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seok Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Chul Won
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seung Hwan
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
keywords: Hearing loss; MRI; Retrocochlear disease; Tinnitus