title: 3D-Flair sequence at 3T in cochlear otosclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the capability of three-dimensional fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (3D-FLAIR) sequences in detecting signal alterations of the endolabyrinthine fluid in patients with otosclerosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  3D-FLAIR before and after (-/+) gadolinium (Gd) administration was added to the standard MR protocol and acquired in 13 patients with a clinical/audiological diagnosis of severe/profound hearing loss in otosclerosis who were candidates for cochlear implantation and in 11 control subjects using 3-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) equipment. The MRI signal of the fluid-filled cochlea was assessed both visually and calculating the signal intensity ratio (SIR = signal intensity cochlea/brainstem).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We revealed no endocochlear signal abnormalities on T1-weighted -/+ Gd images for either group, while on 3D-FLAIR we found bilateral hyperintensity with enhancement after Gd administration in eight patients and bilateral hyperintensity without enhancement in one patient. No endocochlear signal abnormalities were detected in other patients or the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using 3-T MRI equipment, the 3D-FLAIR -/+ Gd sequence is able to detect the blood-labyrinth barrier (BLB) breakdown responsible for alterations of the endolabyrinthine fluid in patients with cochlear otosclerosis. We believe that 3D-FLAIR +/- Gd is an excellent imaging modality to assess the intra-cochlear damage in otosclerosis patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  • Gd-enhanced T1-weighted MRI has limited application to detect intra-cochlear damage. • 3D-FLAIR is less sensitive to flux artefacts and allows multiplanar reconstruction. • Post-Gd 3D-FLAIR is advantageous as it may highlight the BLB breakdown. • Using 3D-FLAIR -/+ Gd, we were able to identify intra-cochlear signal hyperintensities. • 3D-FLAIR might be applied for monitoring disease progression and treatment response.
authors.affiliation: Fondazione CNR Regione Toscana "G. Monasterio", Neuroradiology Unit, Via Moruzzi, 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy. flombardo2@inwind.it.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lombardo
authors.affiliation: Fondazione CNR Regione Toscana "G. Monasterio", Neuroradiology Unit, Via Moruzzi, 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Cori
authors.affiliation: Fondazione CNR Regione Toscana "G. Monasterio", Neuroradiology Unit, Via Moruzzi, 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Gayane
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aghakhanyan
authors.affiliation: Fondazione CNR Regione Toscana "G. Monasterio", Neuroradiology Unit, Via Moruzzi, 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Montanaro
authors.affiliation: Fondazione CNR Regione Toscana "G. Monasterio", Neuroradiology Unit, Via Moruzzi, 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: De Marchi
authors.affiliation: Fondazione CNR Regione Toscana "G. Monasterio", Neuroradiology Unit, Via Moruzzi, 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Frijia
authors.affiliation: ENT Audiology Phoniatry Unit, Department of Neuroscience, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Susanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fortunato
authors.affiliation: ENT Audiology Phoniatry Unit, Department of Neuroscience, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Forli
authors.affiliation: Fondazione CNR Regione Toscana "G. Monasterio", Department of Radiology, Massa, Italy.
authors.forename: Dante
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chiappino
authors.affiliation: ENT Audiology Phoniatry Unit, Department of Neuroscience, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Berrettini
authors.affiliation: Fondazione CNR Regione Toscana "G. Monasterio", Neuroradiology Unit, Via Moruzzi, 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Raffaello
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Canapicchi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016477:Artifacts; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003051:Cochlea / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D019929:Cochlear Implantation; D003287:Contrast Media; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D005682:Gadolinium; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010040:Otosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D005682:Gadolinium; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA
keywords: 3D imaging; 3D-FLAIR; MRI; Otosclerosis; Temporal bone