[Noninvasive determination of pressure relations of intracranial and intracochlear fluid spaces during the glycerol test in normal probands and patients with Menière's disease].

BACKGROUND: The cochlear aqueduct is a route for direct pressure transfer between intracranial and intracochlear fluids. In patients with Menière's disease, intracochlear pressure is presumably disturbed. The "Tympanic Membrane Displacement Analyser (TDA)" is a new system which provides a useful noninvasive method of detecting intracranial and intracochlear pressure changes.

PATIENTS: In this study TDA measurements in combination with a glycerol test were performed in nine patients with Menière's disease and in seven normal persons.

RESULTS: Before ingestion of glycerol, no significant difference in pressure was found between the two groups. After ingestion of glycerol a temporary decrease in intracochlear pressure was detected in both groups without any significant difference between the two groups.

CONCLUSION: These results show that the combination of glycerol testing and TDA measurements does not seem to be helpful for the differential diagnosis of Menière's disease.