The perilymphatic fistula: New diagnostic criteria and clinical characteristics

Abstract

The perilymphatic fistula (PLF), defined as an abnormal communication between the inner and middle ear, presents a symptomatology of hearing loss and vestibular disorders that is indistinguishable from a number of other inner ear diseases. The methods for diagnosis remain controversial. We have shown that the protein, Cochlin-tomoprotein (CTP), was selectively detected in the perilymph and established a definite diagnostic test for PLF using CTP as a biochemical marker, and have proved high reliability of the diagnostic performance of the test. In the Japanese PLF study group, the diagnostic criteria proposed in 1983 were revised. The definite diagnosis criterion is now based on the visual identification of the fistula (not a leakage) and/or detecting CTP from the middle ear lavage (MEL). We describe herein and discuss the summarization of the characteristics of PLF revealed by our CTP detection test.