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On the classification of hydropic ear disease (Menière’s disease)

Zur Klassifikation der hydropischen Ohrerkrankung (M. Menière)

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Abstract

More than 150 years after its initial description by Prosper Menière, the disease named after him is still at the center of scientific debates. Two recent developments have specifically created a breeding ground for controversy: (1) Since its first description 10 years ago, magnetic resonance imaging diagnosis of endolymphatic hydrops in living patients has seen an increasing and worldwide application. (2) The Bárány Society Classification Committee published diagnostic criteria for Menière’s disease in 2015 and proposed a concept of the disease that has elicited widespread criticism. In order to promote the understanding of the underlying controversies and arguments, this article gives an overview of and discusses relevant classification proposals for Menière’s disease, including the new classification system of hydropic ear disease.

Zusammenfassung

Über 150 Jahre nach ihrer Erstbeschreibung durch Prosper Menière ist die nach ihm benannte Erkrankung weiterhin im Zentrum wissenschaftlicher Debatten. Insbesondere 2 neue Entwicklungen haben kontroverse Diskussionen angefacht: (1) Seit der Erstbeschreibung vor 10 Jahren hat die bildgebende Diagnostik des endolymphatischen Hydrops eine rasante weltweite Verbreitung gefunden. (2) Das Klassifikationskomitee der Bárány Society hat 2015 diagnostische Kriterien publiziert und dabei ein Konzept vorgeschlagen, das breite Kritik hervorgerufen hat. Um das Verständnis der zugrunde liegenden Kontroversen und Argumente zu fördern, gibt diese Arbeit einen Überblick über relevante Klassifikationsvorschläge und eine Erörterung derselben, einschließlich der neuen Klassifikation der hydropischen Ohrerkrankung.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. ENT Department, University of Munich, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany

    R. Gürkov

  2. Department of Otolaryngology, Christchurch Hospital, University of Canterbury and University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand

    J. Hornibrook

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  1. R. Gürkov
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Correspondence to R. Gürkov.

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R. Gürkov and J. Hornibrook declare that they have no competing interests.

This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

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Gürkov, R., Hornibrook, J. On the classification of hydropic ear disease (Menière’s disease). HNO 66, 455–463 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00106-018-0488-3

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