3D MRI of the membranous labyrinth - An age related comparison of MR findings in patients with labyrinthine fibrosis and in persons without inner earsymptoms

Purpose: We compared MRI of the membranous labyrinth in patients with chron ic non-neoplastic inner ear disease and MR signs of labyrinthine fibrosis a nd controls depending on their age, in order to establish whether there wer e any MR differences regarding patient age groups, control age groups and b etween the patients and controls themselves. Materials and method: Clinical ENT examinations as well as a T2* weighted 3 D CISS (Constructive interference in Steady State) sequence with a slice th ickness of 0.7 mm were performed. Our collective was subdivided as follows: 0-19 years (10 controls, 3 patients with chronic non-neoplastic inner car disease), 20-49 years (55 controls, 8 patients), 50 years and older (40 con trols, 22 patients). Detectability of labyrinthine structures (e.g. cochlea , vestibule, semicircular canals) and filling defects were evaluated. Results: In the 3 age-groups of the control collective no significant diffe rences were observed in the membranous labyrinth. However differences conce rning labyrinthine detectability emerged between controls and patients in b oth the 20-49 years and 50 years and older age groups. In the patient colle ctive the 3 age groups showed no significant discrepancy in the mean number of lesions. Conclusion: Filling defects of the membranous labyrinth on 3D CISS MR image s are pathological even in older persons. We would therefore recommend high resolution T2* weighted MRI in the case of suspected labyrinthine fibrosis .