Comparison of the diagnostic value of 3 T MRI after intratympanic injection of GBCA, electrocochleography, and the glycerol test in patients with Meniere's disease

Figures & data

Table I. Summary of patients' details.

							3 T MRI
Patient no	Age, sex	Affected side	Hearing level on affected side	Period*	Glycerol test	ECoG	EHI	Ratio	Laterality
1	40, F	L	16.3	2 months	–	–	+	0.43	+
2	39, M	R	21.7	4 months	+	+	+	0.87	+
3	22, F	R	26.7	2 months	+	+	+	0.64	+
4	53, F	R	28.3	4 months	+	+	+	0.74	+
5	38, M	R	31.7	2 months	+	+	+	0.80	+
6	49, F	R	31.7	3 weeks	+	–	+	0.55	+
7	64, F	R	31.7	1 month	–	+	+	1.70	–
8	51, F	R	35.0	1 month	+	+	+	0.15	+
9	27, F	L	36.7	2 months	–	–	+	0.42	+
10	52, M	L	36.7	1 months	–	–	+	0.66	+
11	51, M	R	40.0	6 months	–	–	–	0.65	+
12	58, M	L	40.0	2 weeks	–	+	+	0.89	+
13	35, M	R	51.7	1 months	+	–	–	0.65	+
14	66, F	R	55.0	3 months	+	+	+	0.76	+
15	53, F	L	56.7	1 month	+	–	+	0.22	+
16	64, M	L	60.0	5 months	–	+	+	0.49	+
17	80, M	L	60.0	2 weeks	–	+	+	0.50	+
18	52, F	L	61.7	1 year 7 months	+	+	+	0.53	+
19	71, M	L	61.7	2 months	+	+	+	0.88	+
20	69, F	R	66.7	1 day	–	–	+	0.60	+

Hearing level shown is an average of 0.5, 1, and 2 kHz. +, positive; –, negative; EHI: endolymphatic hydrops image.

*Period indicates the time period between the latest vertigo attack and MRI scan.

Figure 1. MRI scan for patient no. 17 (definite MD). The endolymphatic hydrops (ELH) is detectable as a black area inside the perilymphatic space filled with the gadodiamide in the left cochlea (a: arrows) and vestibule (b: arrowhead). In the right cochlea, the endolymphatic space (a significantly small area) is not detectable, probably due to strong signal intensity in the perilymphatic space. In the right vestibule, endolympatic space is detectable, but significantly smaller than that found in the left vestibule. [A detailed serial image movie can be seen at: http://www.shinshu-u.ac.jp/faculty/medicine/chair/ent/MRIleft.mov]

Table II. Results of the glycerol test, ECoG, and 3 T MRI.

				3 T MRI
Parameter	Glycerol test (n = 20)	ECoG (n = 20)	Glycerol test + ECoG (n = 20)	EHI (unilateral) (n = 20)	Laterality (bilateral) (n = 20)
Positive (n)	11	12	15	18	19
Negative (n)	9	8	5	2	1
Positive rate	55%	60%	75%	90%	95%

Figure 2. Vertical bar chart presentation of the positive rate of each test. *p < 0.05.

Figure 3. A scatter plot displaying the relationship between the ratio and the hearing level (average of 0.5, 1, and 2 kHz).