Giorgio Conte1, Luca Caschera2, Bruno Tuscano2, Lorenzo Piergallini2, Stefania Barozzi3, Federica Di Berardino3, Diego Zanetti3, Chiara Scuffi4, Elisa Scola5, Clara Sina5, Fabio Triulzi6. 1. Neuroradiology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca'Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy. Electronic address: giorgioconte.unimed@gmail.com. 2. Postgraduate School of Radiodiagnostics, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy. 3. Audiology Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community, Fondazione IRCCS Ca'Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy. 4. Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy. 5. Neuroradiology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca'Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy. 6. Neuroradiology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca'Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy; Postgraduate School of Radiodiagnostics, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy; Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: A detailed knowledge of the normal Magnetic Resonance (MR) anatomy of the vestibular endolymphatic space (ES) could be useful to understand the linkage between endolymphatic hydrops (EH) and Ménière's disease (MD). Our aim was to describe the MR anatomy of the vestibular ES as depicted by MR imaging in healthy ears. METHODS: This report describes a single-center retrospective study. Three readers analyzed the healthy ears of 22 consecutive patients who had undergone MRI for unilateral sudden hearing loss. The readers described the vestibular ES based on a delayed post-contrast 3D-FLAIR sequence according to six well-defined planes, three oblique sagittal (lateral, intermediate and medial) planes and three axial (superior, intermediate and inferior) planes. RESULTS: On sagittal lateral and intermediate planes, we identified the SSC ampulla combined with the utricle in 22/22 ears. On the sagittal medial plane, the saccule was detectable in 15/22 (68%) ears, having a club shape with the long axis oriented cranio-caudally; in 7/22 (32%) ears, the saccule presented an oval/round shape that appeared more conspicuously on the axial intermediate plane. The ES occupied the half superior portion of the vestibule in 22/22 ears, never contacting the round and oval windows. On the axial plane, in 17/22 cases, the ES showed a Y-shaped arrangement, while in 5/22 ears (23%), the ES presented a more globular shape. CONCLUSION: MR imaging represents a valid tool to explore the in vivo anatomy of the vestibular ES and to highlight its variability in normal ears.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: A detailed knowledge of the normal Magnetic Resonance (MR) anatomy of the vestibular endolymphatic space (ES) could be useful to understand the linkage between endolymphatic hydrops (EH) and Ménière's disease (MD). Our aim was to describe the MR anatomy of the vestibular ES as depicted by MR imaging in healthy ears. METHODS: This report describes a single-center retrospective study. Three readers analyzed the healthy ears of 22 consecutive patients who had undergone MRI for unilateral sudden hearing loss. The readers described the vestibular ES based on a delayed post-contrast 3D-FLAIR sequence according to six well-defined planes, three oblique sagittal (lateral, intermediate and medial) planes and three axial (superior, intermediate and inferior) planes. RESULTS: On sagittal lateral and intermediate planes, we identified the SSC ampulla combined with the utricle in 22/22 ears. On the sagittal medial plane, the saccule was detectable in 15/22 (68%) ears, having a club shape with the long axis oriented cranio-caudally; in 7/22 (32%) ears, the saccule presented an oval/round shape that appeared more conspicuously on the axial intermediate plane. The ES occupied the half superior portion of the vestibule in 22/22 ears, never contacting the round and oval windows. On the axial plane, in 17/22 cases, the ES showed a Y-shaped arrangement, while in 5/22 ears (23%), the ES presented a more globular shape. CONCLUSION: MR imaging represents a valid tool to explore the in vivo anatomy of the vestibular ES and to highlight its variability in normal ears.
Authors: G Conte; S Casale; L Caschera; F M Lo Russo; C Paolella; C Cinnante; F Di Berardino; D Zanetti; D Stocchetti; E Scola; L Bassi; F Triulzi Journal: AJNR Am J Neuroradiol Date: 2021-01-28 Impact factor: 3.825
Authors: Marly F J A van der Lubbe; Akshayaa Vaidyanathan; Vincent Van Rompaey; Alida A Postma; Tjasse D Bruintjes; Dorien M Kimenai; Philippe Lambin; Marc van Hoof; Raymond van de Berg Journal: J Neurol Date: 2020-11-17 Impact factor: 4.849