The Role of the New Imaging Modalities in the Investigation of Menière's Disease

Abstract

Thirty one patients with Menière's disease investigated with HRCT and MRI of the inner ear are presented. The parameters evaluated were: a) Pneumatization of the petrous bone, b) Width of the vestibular aqueduct (VA) in its postisthmic segment, c) Visualization of the endolymphatic duct (ELD). A similar survey was performed in other 50 patients with no previous history of ear disease which served as controls. There was evidence of statistically significant differences in the pneumatization of the petrous bones (p<0.05), as well as the width of the vestibular aqueducts (p<0.001) between the two groups of patients. Also the percentage of the visualized endolymphatic ducts was higher in the control group as compared to the patients with Menière's disease (p<0.05).