Affiliation:
1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
2. Department of Radiology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
Abstract
Objective
Bilateral high signal intensity (SI) in the endolymphatic duct (ED) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been reported as a common characteristic in ears with large vestibular aqueduct syndrome (LVAS). However, the significance of bilateral high SI in the ED remains unknown. The present study aimed to compare the correlation between SI in the ED and the clinical manifestations in various otological disorders and consider the significance of the MRI findings.
Study Design
Retrospective study.
Setting
University hospital.
Patients
The study included 2,450 ears from 1,225 patients with various otological disorders.
Intervention
All ears underwent 3T enhanced MRI and were evaluated for the degree of endolymphatic hydrops (EH) and the SI ratios (SIRs; i.e., the calculation between SIs in the ED and those in the cerebellum).
Main Outcome Measure
The imaging findings were compared with their clinical symptoms.
Results
Ears with bilateral high SIRs in the ED tended to have considerably less occurrence of EH in both the cochlea and vestibule than those with bilateral low SIRs. Ears with SIR ≥8 showed significantly elevated hearing thresholds at lower frequencies on pure-tone audiometry, although they exhibited a markedly lower incidence of cochlear EH than those with SIR <8. Moreover, ears with vertigo exhibited notably higher SIRs than those without vertigo.
Conclusion
Bilateral high SI in the ED on MRI may reflect pathophysiology underlying sensorineural hearing loss and vestibular symptoms, which are not associated with EH formation.
Publisher
Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)