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Differential diagnosis of virus-like particles in the human inner ear

P A Wackym1, I S Storper, Y S Fu

  • 1Division of Head and Neck Surgery, Victor Goodhill Ear Center, UCLA School of Medicine 90024-1624.

The American Journal of Otology
|September 1, 1992
PubMed

Insights

This study investigated viral infection in Meniere

Area of Science:

  • Otolaryngology
  • Pathology
  • Virology

Background:

  • Meniere's disease is a disorder of the inner ear.
  • The etiology of Meniere's disease is not fully understood.
  • Viral infections have been proposed as a potential cause.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the presence of viral particles in the endolymphatic duct and sac, and vestibular epithelia of patients with Meniere's disease.
  • To identify any morphologic evidence of viral infection in these tissues.

Main Methods:

  • Specimens were obtained from patients undergoing translabyrinthine (TL) eighth nerve section for Meniere's disease or acoustic schwannoma resection.
  • Tissues were processed for routine transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
  • Morphologic analysis was performed to identify viral particles or virus-like structures.

Main Results:

  • No definitive virus particles were identified in any of the specimens.
  • Numerous regularly occurring cellular components and artifacts were observed.
  • These structures mimicked the morphology of viruses.

Conclusions:

  • The study did not find evidence of viral infection in the examined tissues.
  • Many cellular components and artifacts can be mistaken for viruses under TEM.
  • An atlas of these virus-mimicking structures is provided to aid in future research.

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