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.