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Updated: Aug 4, 2026

In Vivo Morphometric Analysis of Human Cranial Nerves Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Menière's Disease Ears and Normal Hearing Ears
Published on: February 21, 2018
Otologic manifestations of Chiari I malformation
N M Sperling1, R A Franco, T H Milhorat
1Department of Otolaryngology, State University of New York-Health Science Center at Brooklyn, Brooklyn, New York 11203, USA.
Objective:
To assess the prevalence of otologic symptoms in patients undergoing surgical decompression for symptomatic Chiari I malformation.
Study Design:
Cross-sectional, prospective, nonrandomized.
Setting:
Urban tertiary referral center.
Patients:
Patients with Chiari I malformation before surgical intervention.
Interventions:
None.
Main Outcome Measure:
Results of completed questionnaire.
Results:
Sixteen consecutive patients with Chiari I malformation completed the self-administered questionnaire. Eighty-one percent of patients reported episodic aural fullness, 81% reported tinnitus, 69% reported vertigo, and 56% reported fluctuating hearing loss. Headaches were reported as frequently as aural fullness and tinnitus.
Conclusions:
Most patients with Chiari I malformation have symptoms that mimic primary otologic pathologic changes. The existence of common pathophysiologic mechanisms is proposed.
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