title: MRI of endolymphatic hydrops in patients with Meniere's disease: a case-controlled study with a simplified classification based on saccular morphology.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Endolymphatic hydrops (EH) can be studied in patients by MRI. With the semi-quantitative grading system, previous imaging studies showed discrepancies in the occurrence and grading of EH in patients with Meniere's disease (MD). Here, we compared the inversion of the saccule to utricle area ratio (SURI) with the semi-quantitative method of grading conventionally used to diagnose MD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Imaging was carried out on a 3-T MRI scanner. We performed 3D-FLAIR sequences 4 h after a single intravenous dose of contrast agent. Two radiologists independently studied the morphology of the inner ear structures in the healthy subjects and MD patients. Each subject was then graded on the basis of the EH semi-quantitative analysis and on saccular morphology using axial and sagittal reference slices in the vestibule plane.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty healthy subjects and 30 MD patients had MRI scans. Using the semi-quantitative method, we found no significant difference in the number of subjects with EH between the two groups. SURI was found in 15 out of 30 MD patients and in none of the 30 healthy subjects. In three MD patients the saccule was not visible.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SURI is currently the most specific criterion for imaging diagnosis of MD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  • Half of MD patients presented with inversion of the saccule to utricle ratio. • Saccular analysis is crucial when assessing patients with Meniere's disease. • In some patients, the saccule is not visible, suggestive of intra-labyrinthine fistulae.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroradiology and MRI, CS 10217-Grenoble Alpes University Hospital - SFR RMN Neurosciences, F-38043, Grenoble Cedex 9, France. aattye@chu-grenoble.fr.|Univ. Grenoble Alpes, IRMaGe, F-38000, Grenoble, France. aattye@chu-grenoble.fr.
authors.forename: Arnaud
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Attyé
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Rouen University Hospital, Rouen, France.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eliezer
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroradiology and MRI, CS 10217-Grenoble Alpes University Hospital - SFR RMN Neurosciences, F-38043, Grenoble Cedex 9, France.
authors.forename: Naïla
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Boudiaf
authors.affiliation: IRMaGe, Inserm US 17, CNRS UMS 3552, Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: Irène
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tropres
authors.affiliation: Philips Healthcare, Paris, France.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chechin
authors.affiliation: Department of Otology, Grenoble Alpes University Hospital, Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: Sébastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schmerber
authors.affiliation: Department of Otology, Grenoble Alpes University Hospital, Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: Georges
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dumas
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroradiology and MRI, CS 10217-Grenoble Alpes University Hospital - SFR RMN Neurosciences, F-38043, Grenoble Cedex 9, France.|Univ. Grenoble Alpes, IRMaGe, F-38000, Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Krainik
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D018159:Endolymphatic Hydrops / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008575:Meniere Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015837:Vestibular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media
keywords: Endolymphatic hydrops; Healthy subjects; Inner ear; Magnetic resonance imaging; Meniere’s disease