Spiral modiolar vein: its importance in inner ear inflammation.

The inner ear responds immunologically to foreign proteins and pathogens introduced into the cochlea. The route of entry of the cells participating in the inner ear inflammatory process is the spiral modiolar vein with its collecting venules. Since this vein is located adjacent to the scala tympani, the end result of cellular infiltration is fibro-osseous obliteration of this scala preferentially. This observation has implications for the placement of cochlear implant electrodes of patients with labyrinthitis as the cause of hearing loss.