Magnetic resonance imaging of endolymphatic hydrops in patients with unilateral Meniere’s disease: volume ratio and distribution rate of the endolymphatic space

Abstract

Background: Endolymphatic hydrops (ELH), which is a pathological feature of Meniere’s disease (MD), is characterized by an extended endolymphatic space (ELS). Aims/Objectives: We aimed to perform a quantitative volumetric analysis of inner-ear ELH in patients with unilateral MD (uMD). Material and methods: This study included 97 patients with definite uMD and 49 control subjects (CS). The ELS/total fluid space (TFS) volume ratio (%) and the distribution rate of the inner-ear components in the ELS (%) were measured using 3D magnetic resonance imaging and compared between patients with uMD and CS. Results: Compared to CS, patients with uMD had significantly higher mean ELS/TFS volume ratios for inner-ear components. The mean distribution rate of the inner-ear components in the ELS was not significantly different between the two groups. Conclusions and significance: In patients with uMD, ELH was noted to be spread throughout the entire inner ear and the endolymph was evenly distributed in the total ELS. These findings should be useful as a standard reference for further research.