Mb. Zavod et al., Frequency of cochlear enhancement on magnetic resonance imaging in patients with autoimmune sensorineural hearing loss, ARCH OTOLAR, 126(8), 2000, pp. 969-971
Objective: To evaluate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans for enhanceme
nt of inner ear structures of patients with sensorineural hearing loss and
documented antibodies to the 68-kd inner ear antigen.
Study Design: Retrospective case review with reexamination of MRI scans.
Setting: Outpatient office.
Patients: Thirty-five patients with autoimmune sensorineural hearing loss d
efined by audiograms documenting a sensorineural hearing deficit in one or
both ears and the presence of an anti-inner ear antibody (68-kd band) in se
rum samples who underwent precontrast and postcontrast T1-weighted axial an
d coronal MRI scans of the inner ear, which were performed concurrently wit
h the hearing loss.
Interventions: Diagnostic.
Main Outcome Measures: Frequency and intensity of cochlear enhancement on M
RI scans.
Results: One patient demonstrated +2 cochlear enhancement. However, that fi
nding was thought to represent postoperative inflammatory change.
Conclusion: No correlation was found between the presence of antibodies to
inner ear antigen in patients with hearing loss and cochlear enhancement on
MRI scans.