title: Electrocochleography for Ménière's disease: is it reliable?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Endolymphatic hydrops, the histopathological substrate of Ménière's disease, is an almost universal finding in postmortem studies of patients with this disease. The cause of hydrops is still unknown, as is the mechanism by which it causes progressive dysfunction of the sensory organs of inner ear. The fluctuating course of the disease complicates the interpretation of certain tests, such as electrocochleography; thus, for some authors its diagnostic value is questionable.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical applicability of electrocochleography in the diagnosis of hydrops. It is a valuable tool, but still generates conflicting opinions among otolaryngologists.
  
  
  METHODS
  Systematic review of the literature on electrocochleography in patients diagnosed with endolymphatic hydrops.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 34 articles regarding the use of electrocochleography in patients with hydrops, from the year 2000 onwards, were selected. Of these, 15 were excluded from the review as they were not observational studies. Only one cross-sectional study addressing the clinical use of electrocochleography by otolaryngologists was included.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Electrocochleography is a valuable tool in the diagnosis of hydrops, as it is a non-invasive, easy to handle procedure, which offers new techniques to increase the sensitivity of the test, and thereby assists otolaryngologists in the management of Ménière's disease.
authors.affiliation: Health Sciences, Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Brasília, DF, Brazil.
authors.forename: Pauliana
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lamounier
authors.affiliation: Health Sciences, Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Brasília, DF, Brazil.
authors.forename: Débora Aparecida
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Gobbo
authors.affiliation: Health Sciences, Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Brasília, DF, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thiago Silva Almeida de
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.affiliation: Health Sciences, Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Brasília, DF, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carlos Augusto Costa Pires de
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Health Sciences, Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Brasília, DF, Brazil. Electronic address: fayez@unb.br.
authors.forename: Fayez
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bahmad
mesh_terms: D001300:Audiometry, Evoked Response; D018159:Endolymphatic Hydrops / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008575:Meniere Disease; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
keywords: Audiometria de resposta evocada; Audiometry evoked response; Doença de Ménière; Endolymphatic hydrops; Hidropisia endolinfática; Ménière disease