Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Endolymphatic Duct and Sac in Ménière's Disease

Abstract

We compared the morphology of the endolymphatic duct (ED) and the endolymphatic sac (ES) in patients with Meniere’s disease with that of normal individuals. The use of a high-resolution magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system made it possible to visualize the ED and ES, which consisted of soft tissue and lymph fluid. In normal individuals, the ED and ES were relatively well visualized, but visibility of ED and ES in 19 ears in the 10 Meniere’s patients was significantly reduced. In unilateral Meniere’s disease, visibility of the ED and ES in the affected ear was poorer than in the unaffected ear, but there was no significant difference between them. Improvement in imaging methods and hardware for MR imaging systems will make it possible to apply morphological investigation of the ED and ES to the diagnosis, staging, and prediction of prognosis of Meniere’s disease, and will be helpful in determining the need for endolymphatic sac surgery.