title: Three-dimensional cone beam computed tomography imaging of the membranous labyrinth in patients with Meniere's disease.
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  Three-dimensional cone beam computed tomography (3DCT) images revealed characteristic malformations of the membranous labyrinth of the inner ear in Meniere's disease (MD). The morphology of the membranous region between the vestibular cecum of the cochlea and the saccule of ears with MD was compared to that of healthy ears. The present study supports the hypothesis proposed earlier that reuniting duct blockade is a result of the dislodgement of saccular otoconia.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To visualize the membranous labyrinth using 3DCT and to investigate the pathology of MD.
  
  
  METHODS
  A preparatory study was conducted to determine the optimal 3DCT window settings for the detection of water, muscle, calcium carbonate (CaCO3), and bone. Based on this preparatory study, the ears of 13 healthy volunteers and 25 MD patients definitely diagnosed according to the criteria issued by the Committee on Hearing and Equilibrium of the American Academy of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS), were visualized.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The differences in the membranous labyrinth between MD ears and healthy ears could be visualized using 3DCT. The images were classified into three types based on their morphological pattern. The ears of patients with MD were different from normal ears in terms of this classification.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine , Osaka , Japan.
authors.forename: Hideo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamane
authors.forename: Hiroyoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Iguchi
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Konishi
authors.forename: Hiramori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sakamaoto
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wada
authors.forename: Takanori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fujioka
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Matsushita
authors.forename: Toshio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Imoto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008575:Meniere Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010037:Otolithic Membrane / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D012016:Reference Values; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
keywords: CT window; ductus reuniens; endolymphatic hydrops; otoconia; saccule