title: Usefulness of three-dimensional fluid-attenuated inversion recovery magnetic resonance imaging to detect inner-ear abnormalities in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Three-dimensional fluid-attenuated inversion recovery magnetic resonance imaging has been used to detect alterations in the composition of inner-ear fluid. This study investigated the association between hearing level and the signal intensity of pre- and post-contrast three-dimensional fluid-attenuated inversion recovery magnetic resonance imaging in patients with sudden-onset sensorineural hearing loss.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three-dimensional fluid-attenuated inversion recovery magnetic resonance imaging was performed in 18 patients with sudden-onset sensorineural hearing loss: 12 patients with mild-to-moderate sensorineural hearing loss (baseline hearing levels of 60 dB or less) and 6 patients with severe-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss (baseline hearing levels of more than 60 dB).
  
  
  RESULTS
  High-intensity signals in the inner ear were observed in two of the six patients (33 per cent) with severe-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss, but not in those with mild-to-moderate sensorineural hearing loss (mid-p test, p = 0.049). These signals were observed on magnetic resonance imaging scans 6 or 18 days after sensorineural hearing loss onset.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate that three-dimensional fluid-attenuated inversion recovery magnetic resonance imaging is not a useful tool for detecting inner-ear abnormalities in patients with mild sensorineural hearing loss.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology,Aichi Medical University,Nagakute,Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tanigawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology,Nagoya University,Tsurumai,Japan.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shibata
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology,Aichi Medical University,Nagakute,Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.affiliation: Unit of Biostatistics Advanced Medical Research Center,Aichi Medical University,Nagakute,Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gosho
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology,Aichi Medical University,Nagakute,Japan.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Katahira
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology,Aichi Medical University,Nagakute,Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Horibe
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology,Yoshida General Hospital,Hiroshima,Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakao
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology,Aichi Medical University,Nagakute,Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ueda
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001299:Audiometry; D001309:Auditory Threshold / Q000502:physiology*; D003051:Cochlea / Q000503:physiopathology; D003287:Contrast Media; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003639:Hearing Loss, Sudden / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D007761:Labyrinthine Fluids; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media
keywords: Signal Detection Analysis