Abstract
Imaging one of the smallest organs in the human body such as the inner ear frequently challenges the radiologist to depict millimetric changes in the labyrinth. Fortunately, the continuously increasing resolution of computed tomography (CT) as well as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) makes it possible to see pathology in the labyrinth that was not detectable before. MRI is the technique of choice to image most of the acquired inner ear changes, but as in many parts of the body, CT will still be complementary in making the correct diagnosis. This chapter will try to focus on some characteristic features of the different pathologies and how to differentiate them from other lesions.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Aho TR, Daspit CP, Dean BL, Wallace RC (2003) Intralabyrinthine meningioma. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 24:1642–1645
American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Foundation, Inc. (1995) Committee on hearing and equilibrium guidelines for the diagnosis and evaluation of therapy in Menière’s disease. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 113:181–185
Amoodi HA, Makki FM, McNeil M, Bance M (2011) Transmastoid resurfacing of superior semicircular canal dehiscence. Laryngoscope 121:1117–1123
Benson AG (2010) Labyrinthitis ossificans secondary to autoimmune inner ear disease: a previously unreported condition. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 142:772–773
Berrettini S, Seccia V, Fortunato S, Forli F, Bruschini L, Piaggi P, Canapicchi R (2013) Analysis of the 3-dimensional fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery (3D-FLAIR) sequence in idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 139:456–464
Beyea JA, Agrawal SK, Parnes LS (2012) Transmastoid semicircular canal occlusion: a safe and highly effective treatment for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and superior canal dehiscence. Laryngoscope 122:1862–1866
Bouchetemblé P, Heathcote K, Tollard E, Choussy O, Dehesdin D, Marie JP (2013) Intralabyrinthine schwannomas: a case series with discussion of the diagnosis and management. Otol Neurotol 34:944–951
Bovo R, Ciorba A, Trevisi P, Aimoni C, Cappiello L, Castiglione A, Govoni M, Martini A (2011) Cochlear implant in Cogan syndrome. Acta Otolaryngol 131:494–497
Brandolini C, Modugno GC, Pirodda A (2014) Dehiscence of the superior semicircular canal: a review of the literature on its possible pathogenic explanations. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 271:435–437
Branstetter BF 4th, Harrigal C, Escott EJ, Hirsch BE (2006) Superior semicircular canal dehiscence: oblique reformatted CT images for diagnosis. Radiology 238:938–942
Cadoni G, Cianfoni A, Agostino S, Scipione S, Tartaglione T, Galli J, Colosimo C (2006) Magnetic resonance imaging findings in sudden sensorineural hearing loss. J Otolaryngol 35:310–316
Carfrae MJ, Holtzman A, Eames F, Parnes SM, Lupinetti A (2008) 3 Tesla delayed contrast magnetic resonance imaging evaluation of Ménière’s disease. Laryngoscope 118:501–505
Casselman JW, Kuhweide R, Ampe W, Meeus L, Steyaert L (1993) Pathology of the membranous labyrinth: comparison of T1- and T2-weighted and gadolinium-enhanced spin-echo and 3DFT-CISS imaging. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 14:59–69
Casselman JW, Majoor MH, Albers FW (1994) MR of the inner ear in patients with Cogan syndrome. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 15:131–138
Chien WW, Carey JP, Minor LB (2011) Canal dehiscence. Curr Opin Neurol 24:25–31
Claes G, Van den Hauwe L, Wuyts F, Van de Heyning P (2012) Does intratympanic gadolinium injection predict efficacy of gentamicin partial chemolabyrinthectomy in Menière’s disease patients? Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 269:413–418
Crovetto M, Whyte J, Rodriguez OM, Lecumberri I, Martinez C, Eléxpuru J (2010) Anatomo-radiological study of the superior semicircular canal dehiscence radiological considerations of superior and posterior semicircular canals. Eur J Radiol 76:167–172
Curry JM, King N, O’Reilly RC, Corao D (2010) Inflammatory pseudotumor of the inner ear: are computed tomography changes pathognomonic? Laryngoscope 120:1252–1255
Dahlen RT, Johnson CE, Harnsberger HR, Biediger CP, Syms CA, Fischbein NJ, Schwartz JM (2002) CT and MR imaging characteristics of intravestibular lipoma. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 23:1413–1417
De Foer B, Kenis C, Vercruysse JP, Somers T, Pouillon M, Offeciers E, Casselman JW (2009) Imaging of temporal bone tumors. Neuroimaging Clin N Am 19:339–366
de Souza C, Paparella MM, Schachern P, Yoon TH (1991) Pathology of labyrinthine ossification. J Laryngol Otol 105:621–624
Dubrulle F, Kohler R, Vincent C, Puech P, Ernst O (2010) Differential diagnosis and prognosis of T1-weighted post-gadolinium intralabyrinthine hyperintensities. Eur Radiol 20:2628–2636
Fierek O, Laskawi R, Kunze E (2004) Large intraosseous hemangioma of the temporal bone in a child. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 113:394–398
Fortnum H, Davis A (1993) Hearing impairment in children after bacterial meningitis: incidence and resource implications. Br J Audiol 27:43–52
Foster CA, Breeze RE (2013) Endolymphatic hydrops in Ménière’s disease: cause, consequence, or epiphenomenon? Otol Neurotol 34:1210–1214
Greco A, Gallo A, Fusconi M, Magliulo G, Turchetta R, Marinelli C, Macri GF, De Virgilio A, de Vincentiis M (2013) Cogan’s syndrome: an autoimmune inner ear disease. Autoimmun Rev 12:396–400
Grieve SM, Obholzer R, Malitz N, Gibson WP, Parker GD (2012) Imaging of endolymphatic hydrops in Meniere’s disease at 1.5 T using phase-sensitive inversion recovery: (1) demonstration of feasibility and (2) overcoming the limitations of variable gadolinium absorption. Eur J Radiol 81:331–338
Gürkov R, Flatz W, Louza J, Strupp M, Ertl-Wagner B, Krause E (2012) In vivo visualized endolymphatic hydrops and inner ear functions in patients with electrocochleographically confirmed Ménière’s disease. Otol Neurotol 33:1040–1045
Hegarty JL, Patel S, Fischbein N, Jackler RK, Lalwani AK (2002) The value of enhanced magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of endocochlear disease. Laryngoscope 112:8–17
Helmchen C, Jäger L, Büttner U, Reiser M, Brandt T (1998) Cogan’s syndrome. High resolution MRI indicators of activity. J Vestib Res 8:155–167
Jang CH, Park SY, Wang PC (2005) A case of tympanogenic labyrinthitis complicated by acute otitis media. Yonsei Med J 46:161–165
Karanja BW, Oburra HO, Masinde P, Wamalwa D (2013) Risk factors for hearing loss in children following bacterial meningitis in a tertiary referral hospital. Int J Otolaryngol 2013:354725
Kennedy RJ, Shelton C, Salzman KL, Davidson HC, Harnsberger HR (2004) Intralabyrinthine schwannomas: diagnosis, management, and a new classification system. Otol Neurotol 25:160–167
Kuhweide R, Van de Steene V, Vlaminck S, Casselman JW (2002) Ramsay Hunt syndrome: pathophysiology of cochleovestibular symptoms. J Laryngol Otol 116:844–848
Lee HY, Jung SY, Park MS, Yeo SG, Lee SY, Lee SK (2012) Feasibility of three-dimensional fluid-attenuated inversion recovery magnetic resonance imaging as a prognostic factor in patients with sudden hearing loss. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 269:1885–1891
Lemmerling MM, De Foer B, Verbist BM, VandeVyver V (2009) Imaging of inflammatory and infectious diseases in the temporal bone. Neuroimaging Clin N Am 19:321–337
Mafee MF (1995) MR imaging of intralabyrinthine schwannoma, labyrinthitis and other labyrinthine pathology. Otolaryngol Clin N Am 28:407–430
Mazlumzadeh M, Matteson EL (2007) Cogan’s syndrome: an audiovestibular, ocular, and systemic autoimmune disease. Rheum Dis Clin North Am 33:855–874
Minor LB, Solomon D, Zinreich JS, Zee DS (1998) Sound- and/or pressure-induced vertigo due to bone dehiscence of the superior semicircular canal. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 124:249–258
Minor LB (2005) Clinical manifestations of superior semicircular canal dehiscence. Laryngoscope 115:1717–1727
Miracle AC, Mukherji SK (2009) Conebeam CT of the head and neck, part 2: clinical applications. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 30:1285–1292
Morton CC, Nance WE (2006) Newborn hearing screening—a silent revolution. N Engl J Med 354:2151–2164
Mueller SA, Vibert D, Haeusler R, Raabe A, Caversaccio M (2014) Surgical capping of superior semicircular canal dehiscence. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 271:1369–1374
Naganawa S, Satake H, Kawamura M, Fukatsu H, Sone M, Nakashima T (2008) Separate visualization of endolymphatic space, perilymphatic space and bone by a single pulse sequence; 3D-inversion recovery imaging utilizing real reconstruction after intratympanic Gd-DTPA administration at 3 Tesla. Eur Radiol 18:920–924
Naganawa S, Nakashima T (2009) Cutting edge of inner ear MRI. Acta Otolaryngol Suppl 560:15–21
Naganawa S, Yamazaki M, Kawai H, Bokura K, Sone M, Nakashima T (2012) Visualization of endolymphatic hydrops in Ménière’s disease after single-dose intravenous gadolinium-based contrast medium: timing of optimal enhancement. Magn Reson Med Sci 11:43–51
Naganawa S, Yamazaki M, Kawai H, Bokura K, Sone M, Nakashima T (2013) Visualization of endolymphatic hydrops in Ménière’s disease after intravenous administration of single-dose gadodiamide at 1.5 T. Magn Reson Med Sci 12:137–139
Nakashima T, Naganawa S, Sugiura M, Teranishi M, Sone M, Hayashi H, Nakata S, Katayama N, Ishida IM (2007) Visualization of endolymphatic hydrops in patients with Meniere’s disease. Laryngoscope 117:415–420
Nakashima T, Naganawa S, Pyykko I, Gibson WP, Sone M, Nakata S, Teranishi M (2009) Grading of endolymphatic hydrops using magnetic resonance imaging. Acta Otolaryngol Suppl 560:5–8
Nakashima T, Naganawa S, Teranishi M, Tagaya M, Nakata S, Sone M, Otake H, Kato K, Iwata T, Nishio N (2010) Endolymphatic hydrops revealed by intravenous gadolinium injection in patients with Ménière’s disease. Acta Otolaryngol 130:338–343
Neff BA, Willcox TO Jr, Sataloff RT (2003) Intralabyrinthine schwannomas. Otol Neurotol 24:299–307
Nicoucar K, Sakbani K, Vukanovic S, Guyot JP (2005) Intralabyrinthine haemorrhage following cocaine consumption. Acta Otolaryngol 125:899–901
Otake H, Sugiura M, Naganawa S, Nakashima T (2006) 3D-FLAIR magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of mumps deafness. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 70:2115–2117
Peltonen LI, Aarnisalo AA, Kortesniemi MK, Suomalainen A, Jero J, Robinson S (2007) Limited cone-beam computed tomography imaging of the middle ear: a comparison with multislice helical computed tomography. Acta Radiol 48:207–212
Penninger RT, Tavassolie TS, Carey JP (2011) Cone-beam volumetric tomography for applications in the temporal bone. Otol Neurotol 32:453–460
Poh AC, Tan TY (2007) Sudden deafness due to intralabyrinthine haemorrhage: a possible rare late complication of head and neck irradiation. Ann Acad Med Singapore 36:78–82
Ryu IS, Yoon TH, Ahn JH, Kang WS, Choi BS, Lee JH, Shim MJ (2011) Three-dimensional fluid-attenuated inversion recovery magnetic resonance imaging in sudden sensorineural hearing loss: correlations with audiologic and vestibular testing. Otol Neurotol 32:1205–1209
Salomone R, Abu TA, Chaves AG, Bocalini MC, Ade OV, Riskalla PE (2008) Sudden hearing loss caused by labyrinthine hemorrhage. Braz J Otorhinolaryngol 74:776–779
Salzman KL, Childs AM, Davidson HC, Kennedy RJ, Shelton C, Harnsberger HR (2012) Intralabyrinthine schwannomas: imaging diagnosis and classification. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 33:104–109
Seltzer S, Mark AS (1991) Contrast enhancement of the labyrinth on MR scans in patients with sudden hearing loss and vertigo: evidence of labyrinthine disease. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 12:13–16
Smith MM, Anderson JC (2000) Neurosyphilis as a cause of facial and vestibulocochlear nerve dysfunction: MR imaging features. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 21:1673–1675
Stachler RJ, Chandrasekhar SS, Archer SM, Rosenfeld RM, Schwartz SR, Barrs DM, Brown SR, Fife TD, Ford P, Ganiats TG, Hollingsworth DB, Lewandowski CA, Montano JJ, Saunders JE, Tucci DL, Valente M, Warren BE, Yaremchuk KL, Robertson PJ, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (2012) Clinical practice guideline: sudden hearing loss. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 146(3 Suppl):S1–S35
Stokroos RJ, Albers FW, Krikke AP, Casselman JW (1998) Magnetic resonance imaging of the inner ear in patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 255:433–436
Stone JH, Francis HW (2000) Immune-mediated inner ear disease. Curr Opin Rheumatol 12:32–40
Sugiura M, Naganawa S, Teranishi M, Sato E, Kojima S, Nakashima T (2006) Inner ear hemorrhage in systemic lupus erythematosus. Laryngoscope 116:826–828
Sugiura M, Naganawa S, Nakata S, Kojima S, Nakashima T (2007) 3D-FLAIR MRI findings in a patient with Ramsay Hunt syndrome. Acta Otolaryngol 127:547–549
Swartz JD, Mandell DM, Faerber EN, Popky GL, Ardito JM, Steinberg SB, Rojer CL (1985) Labyrinthine ossification: etiologies and CT findings. Radiology 157:395–398
Tanigawa T, Tanaka H, Sato T, Nakao Y, Katahira N, Tsuchiya Y, Nonoyama H, Ueda H (2010) 3D-FLAIR MRI findings in patients with low-tone sudden deafness. Acta Otolaryngol 130:1324–1328
Teszler CB, Williams MT, Belange G, Ayache D (2008) Labyrinthitis related to Wegener granulomatosis: magnetic resonance imaging findings. Otol Neurotol 29:721–722
Tieleman A, Casselman JW, Somers T, Delanote J, Kuhweide R, Ghekiere J, De Foer B, Offeciers EF (2008) Imaging of intralabyrinthine schwannomas: a retrospective study of 52 cases with emphasis on lesion growth. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 29:898–905
Tinling SP, Colton J, Brodie HA (2004) Location and timing of initial osteoid deposition in postmeningitic labyrinthitis ossificans determined by multiple fluorescent labels. Laryngoscope 114:675–680
Toyama C, da Silva CJ, Braga FT, Brito R (2009) Intralabyrinthine hemorrhage associated with superficial siderosis of the central nervous system. Otol Neurotol 30:121–122
Vlastarakos PV, Proikas K, Tavoulari E, Kikidis D, Maragoudakis P, Nikolopoulos TP (2009) Efficacy assessment and complications of surgical management for superior semicircular canal dehiscence: a meta-analysis of published interventional studies. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 266:177–186
Wang JR, Yuen HW, Shipp DB, Stewart S, Lin VY, Chen JM, Nedzelski JM (2010) Cochlear implantation in patients with autoimmune inner ear disease including Cogan syndrome: a comparison with age- and sex-matched controls. Laryngoscope 120:2478–2483
Ward BK, Agrawal Y, Nguyen E, Della Santina CC, Limb CJ, Francis HW, Minor LB, Carey JP (2012) Hearing outcomes after surgical plugging of the superior semicircular canal by a middle cranial fossa approach. Otol Neurotol 33:1386–1391
Ward BK, Wenzel A, Ritzl EK, Gutierrez-Hernandez S, Della Santina CC, Minor LB, Carey JP (2013) Near-dehiscence: clinical findings in patients with thin bone over the superior semicircular canal. Otol Neurotol 34:1421–1428
Weisert JU, Veraguth D, Probst R (2012) Bilateral deafness due to labyrinthitis in a patient with Crohn’s disease. HNO 60:132–134
Whitehead RE, MacDonald CB, Melhem ER, McMahon L (1998) Spontaneous labyrinthine hemorrhage in sickle cell disease. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 19:1437–1440
Williams MT, Ayache D (2004) Imaging of the postoperative middle ear. Eur Radiol 14:482–495
Whinney D, Kitchen N, Revesz T, Brookes G (2001) Primary malignant melanoma of the cerebellopontine angle. Otol Neurotol 22:218–222
Xu HX, Joglekar SS, Paparella MM (2009) Labyrinthitis ossificans. Otol Neurotol 30:579–580
Yoshida T, Sugiura M, Naganawa S, Teranishi M, Nakata S, Nakashima T (2008) Three-dimensional fluid-attenuated inversion recovery magnetic resonance imaging findings and prognosis in sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Laryngoscope 118:1433–1437
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Kenis, C., De Foer, B., Casselman, J.W. (2014). Inner Ear Pathology. In: Lemmerling, M., De Foer, B. (eds) Temporal Bone Imaging. Medical Radiology(). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/174_2014_1037
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/174_2014_1037
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-642-17895-5
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-17896-2
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)