Jiapei Xie1, Weidong Zhang2, Jingyi Zhu2, Lian Hui3, Songbai Li2, Ling Ren2, Fei Wang3, Bo Zhang2. 1. Department of Radiology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China. 2. Department of Radiology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China. 3. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the grade of endolymphatic hydrops in patients with "probable" and "definite" Ménière's disease via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to determine whether MRI could assist clinicians in differential diagnosis between probable and definite Ménière's disease. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Three-dimensional FLAIR MRI (fluid-attenuated inversion recovery) to examine endolymphatic hydrops in Ménière's disease. METHODS: A total of 51 patients diagnosed with probable (n = 20) or definite (n = 31) unilateral Ménière's disease were enrolled. Three-dimensional FLAIR MRI was performed to evaluate the grade of endolymphatic hydrops. The differences in endolymphatic hydrops between the probable and definite groups were analyzed. RESULTS: The grade of endolymphatic hydrops was more severe in the definite group than in the probable group (P < .05). CONCLUSION: MRI revealed a higher grade of endolymphatic hydrops in patients with definite Ménière's disease than in patients with probable Ménière's disease. As a result, it may be clinically useful and an effective tool in the differentiation between definite and probable Ménière's disease.
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the grade of endolymphatic hydrops in patients with "probable" and "definite" Ménière's disease via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to determine whether MRI could assist clinicians in differential diagnosis between probable and definite Ménière's disease. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Three-dimensional FLAIR MRI (fluid-attenuated inversion recovery) to examine endolymphatic hydrops in Ménière's disease. METHODS: A total of 51 patients diagnosed with probable (n = 20) or definite (n = 31) unilateral Ménière's disease were enrolled. Three-dimensional FLAIR MRI was performed to evaluate the grade of endolymphatic hydrops. The differences in endolymphatic hydrops between the probable and definite groups were analyzed. RESULTS: The grade of endolymphatic hydrops was more severe in the definite group than in the probable group (P < .05). CONCLUSION: MRI revealed a higher grade of endolymphatic hydrops in patients with definite Ménière's disease than in patients with probable Ménière's disease. As a result, it may be clinically useful and an effective tool in the differentiation between definite and probable Ménière's disease.