Magnetic resonance imaging of the temporal bone in patients with Meniere'sdisease

Meniere's disease (MD) is still controversial in several aspects. The vesti bular aqueduct, the osseous channel that carries the endolymphatic duct and sac, has previously been studied by tomography and computed tomography, wi th shortening and narrowing of this structure observed. These findings are apparently correlated to the development of the endolymphatic hydrops prese nt in MD and related to its episodic symptoms. In studying the endolymphati c duct, the key structure in the pathology of this disease, magnetic resona nce imaging (MRI) studies of the temporal bone were performed in 12 patient s with unilateral MD and in 9 bilateral cases; the results were compared wi th images obtained From 30 normal ears. The endolymphatic duct appeared to be statistically less visible in MD patients. with no difference between sy mptomatic and asymptomatic ears in the presence of unilateral disease. No r elationship was found between visualization of the endolymphatic duct and t ime of evolution or response to clinical treatment in these cases. The dist ance from the posterior semicircular canal to the posterior temporal border was found to be bilaterally reduced in MD. The authors conclude that altho ugh the demonstration of endolymphatic hydrops "in vivo" is not yet possibl e by MRI, some features can be observed that can support a clinical hypothe sis of MD.