title: Diagnostic advantages of intratympanically gadolinium contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging in patients with bilateral Meniere's disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study is to probe whether intratympanically gadolinium contrast-enhanced three-dimensional fluid-attenuated inversion recovery magnetic resonance imaging, together with magnetic resonance imaging scoring system of the perilymphatic space, had advantages in diagnosing patients with bilateral Meniere's disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight patients diagnosed as 'definite' bilateral Meniere's disease and two patients considered as 'possible' Meniere's disease were selected for the current study. All ten patients underwent caloric test, vestibular evoked myogenic potential and intratympanically gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. The perilymphatic space of scanned images were analyzed to investigate the presence of endolymphatic hydrops. The positive rates (bilaterally abnormal patients/patients tested) of the three examinations in the eight patients with bilateral Meniere's disease were calculated respectively. We also selected eight patients with unilateral Meniere's disease as the control group by the method of simple random sampling without replacement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  According to the magnetic resonance imaging scoring system, 100% (8/8) of the patients with bilateral Meniere's disease had bilateral endolymphatic hydrops. The positive rates of vestibular evoked myogenic potential and caloric test were 50% (4/8) and 25% (2/8), respectively. There was a significant difference among the positive rates of the three examinations (P<.05). Two patients with 'possible' Meniere's disease had bilateral endolymphatic hydrops by magnetic resonance imaging. Eight patients with unilateral Meniere's disease displayed endolymphatic hydrops of the affected ears.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intratympanically gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging has a relatively high positive rate of exhibiting bilateral endolymphatic hydrops. This technique with the magnetic resonance imaging scoring system is valuable when diagnosing bilateral Meniere's disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, 20 Cha Zhong Road, Tai Jiang District, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, 20 Cha Zhong Road, Tai Jiang District, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Zhe-Ming
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, 20 Cha Zhong Road, Tai Jiang District, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, the First Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, 88 Jiao Tong Road, Tai Jiang District, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Wei
authors.initials: ZW
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, 20 Cha Zhong Road, Tai Jiang District, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, 20 Cha Zhong Road, Tai Jiang District, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, P.R. China. Electronic address: chenxi3518@sina.com.
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D002150:Caloric Tests; D003287:Contrast Media; D018159:Endolymphatic Hydrops / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008575:Meniere Disease / Q000175:diagnosis; D008875:Middle Aged; D014432:Tympanic Membrane
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA