Pathological findings in the human auditory system following long-standing gentamicin ototoxicity

The clinical, audiovestibular and histopathological findings in a patient who suffered from a long-standing gentamicin-induced deafness are reported. In both temporal bones, the organ of Corti was completely absent, with only a few nerve fibres remaining in the apical part of the cochlea. Regenerative ingrowth of nerve fibers into the area of the degenerative organ of Corti was present apically in both ears. The stria vascularis exhibited considerable degeneration in all turns and loss of microvasculature was found in the basilar membrane. The spiral ganglion cells, the cochlear nerve and the central auditory pathways and nuclei appeared to be unaffected.