Delayed intravenous contrast-enhanced 3D FLAIR MRI in Meniere's disease: correlation of quantitative measures of endolymphatic hydrops with hearing.

OBJECTIVE

Using three-dimensional fluid-attenuated inversion recovery magnetic resonance imaging (3D-FLAIR MRI), our goal was to correlate quantifiable measures of endolymphatic hydrops (EH) with auditory function in the setting of Meniere's disease (MD).

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Forty-one ears were analyzed in 21 subjects (12 ears with MD, 29 without MD). Vestibular endolymphatic space size measurements obtained with two different techniques were referenced against clinical data.

RESULTS

EH was better evaluated on 3D maximum intensity projections (MIPs) than on two-dimensional (2D) images. Using MIPs, quantitative assessments EH correlated with severity of hearing impairment.

CONCLUSION

3D MIPs were superior to 2D images for evaluating EH in the setting of MD.