Differential diagnosis of virus-like particles in the human inner ear.

The entire endolymphatic duct and sac as well as the vestibular epithelia were obtained from four patients with Meniere's disease during translabyrinthine (TL) eighth nerve section and from 12 patients undergoing TL resection of acoustic schwannomas. After these specimens were processed for routine transmission electron microscopy (TEM), they were studied for morphologic evidence of viral infection. Although no virus particles were identified, numerous regularly occurring cell components and artifacts were found to morphologically mimic viruses. An atlas of these structures is presented.