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Updated: Jul 12, 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
Three-dimensional fluid-attenuated inversion recovery magnetic resonance imaging findings in a patient with cochlear
Makoto Sugiura1, Shinji Naganawa, Michihiko Sone
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine 65, Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan. makotos@med.nagoya-u.ac.jp
Abstract:
A 51-year-old man had progressive hearing loss over more than 15 years. He had bilateral sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). Computed tomography (CT) showed extensive bilateral demineralization of the cochlear capsule, which is characteristic of diffuse cochlear otosclerosis. Three-dimensional fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (3D-FLAIR) of magnetic resonance imaging before enhancement revealed high signals in the cochlea and vestibule. Postcontrast 3D-FLAIR revealed enhancement of the basal turn of the left cochlea. This is the first published case of the breakdown of the blood-labyrinth barrier in a patient with cochlear otosclerosis. Our findings suggest that the breakdown of the blood-labyrinth barrier is associated with a part of SNHL in cochlear otosclerosis.
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