title: The Prevalence of High-Riding Jugular Bulb in Patients with Suspected Endolymphatic Hydrops.
abstract: Background To determine the prevalence of a high-riding jugular bulb (HRJB) in the endolymphatic hydrops population. Methods This was a retrospective chart and radiology review of patients seen at a tertiary care medical center. Patients were identified using the International Classification of Diseases, 9th edition, code 386.xx (Meniere disease-unspecified), and were required to have undergone an imaging study that included views of the jugular bulb that were available for review. A radiologist then evaluated all of the imaging studies for evidence of HRJB or inner ear dehiscence with a jugular bulb abnormality. Results The prevalence of a HRJB in all endolymphatic hydrops patients was 9.0% (7 of 78), and it was 4.5% (7 of 156) in all ears. The prevalence of HRJB ipsilateral to an ear with endolymphatic hydrops was 4.6% (4 of 88 ears); it was 4.4% (3 of 68 ears) in ears without endolymphatic hydrops. The incidence of inner ear dehiscence with a HRJB was 1.3% (1 of 78). Electrocochleography results were not correlated with jugular bulb volume. Discussion The results of this study indicate that a small subset of patients treated for endolymphatic hydrops patients have a HRJB. Overall, these results suggest that HRJB does not play a major role in endolymphatic hydrops, although it may play a role in a few isolated patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States.
authors.forename: Christopher D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Brook
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Buch
authors.affiliation: Boston University School of Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences and Education, Boston, Massachusetts, United States.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaufmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States.
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States.
authors.forename: Anand K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Devaiah
keywords: Meniere disease; dizziness; hearing loss; lateral skull base