SUDDEN HEARING-LOSS - FREQUENCY OF ABNORMAL FINDINGS ON CONTRAST-ENHANCED MR STUDIES

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Our purpose was to determine the frequency of abnormal findings on contrast-enhanced high-resolution MR imaging stud ies in patients with sudden hearing loss. METHODS: Seventy-eight conse cutive patients with sudden hearing loss underwent contrast-enhanced M R imaging of the temporal bone, cerebellopontine angle, and brain. Add itional tests included audiologic examination, electrocochleography, f istula tests, and serologic tests for viral agents and autoimmune diso rders. RESULTS: Probable causes of the sudden hearing loss in these pa tients included viral or immune-mediated disease, Meniere disease, vas cular disorder, syphilis, neoplasm, multiple sclerosis, and perilympha tic fistula, Twenty-four (31%) of the 78 patients were found to have a bnormal imaging results early in the course of their work up and treat ment. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of abnormal findings on contrast-enha nced MR studies is higher than previously reported in patients with su dden hearing loss.