Diagnostic Value Of Inner Ear Imaging After Intratympanic Gadolinium Injection For Meniere’s Disease

Objective： To investigate the postive rate of the visulization of theendolymph space in Meniere’s disease by three-dimensional fluid-attenuatedinversion recovery magnetic resonance imaging(3D-FLAIR MRI) afterintratympanic gadolinium injection and the diagnostic value in diagnosis of thistechnology in Meniere’s disease.Methods：3D-FLAIR MRI was performed24h after intratympanticGadolinium DTPA in twenty eight patients with Meniere’s disease, of which，onecase had bilateral Meniere’s disease，and there were a total of29affected ear.then the results were summarized and and analyzed，and compared with theresults of vestibular evoked myogenic potential （VEMP） test andeleetrocochleography （EcochG）.Results: the achievement ratio of the visulization of the endolymph space inMeniere’s disease by three-dimensional fluid-attenuated inversion recoverymagnetic resonance imaging(3D-FLAIR MRI) after intratympanic gadoliniuminjection in twenty nine affected ears is96.6%（28/29）. The gadolinium couldappear in the perilymph inside the inner ear, moreover, the border between theperilymph and endolymph was visible so that endolymphatic space was clearlyshown on3D-FLAIR MRI. Twenty six (92.9%) patients show the signs ofendolymphatic hydrops. There were statistically significant differences betweenthe results of3D-FLAIR MRI and that of VEMP test and eleetrocochleography（P<0．0125）. No complications, such as tympanic membrane perforation orinfection were observed. Conclusion：The visulization of the endolymph space by3D-FLAIR MRIafter intratympanic gadolinium injection is a reliable and effective examinationmethods for detection of endolymphatic hydrops. Which has a higher positiverate in patients with Meniere’s disease compared with VEMP test andeleetrocochleography; although the MRI technique of inner ear imagingpost-transtympanic gadolinium injection is a invasive examination, it has lessside effects and will own an important diagnostic value and clinical signficancefor Meniere’s disease.