Imaging Techniques in Inner ear Hydrops

Imaging Techniques in Inner ear Hydrops
Pedram Borghei M.D.
Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery
Amiralam Hospital
Tehran University of Medical Sciences

For year diagnosis of Meniere’s disease has been merely clinical. Electro- vestibular tests have added help but with relatively low specificity and sensitivity. The intravenous Gadolinium Delayed imaging heavily T2- weighted -3D Flair -3Tesla MRI shows the enlarged endolymph as a blackout signal void areas in the cochlea. More recently 24 hour delayed intra-tympanic injection of Gadolinium with a specific protocol (3D-FLAIR, 3D-Real IR) has shown better results in showing endolymphatic hydrops in the cochlea. This is a promising method to objectively diagnose a disease which to date its diagnosis has been only subjective symptoms. The technique, images, results, and the benefits of this imaging is discussed and shown.