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Updated: Jun 10, 2025
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
Morphometric Evaluation of the Facial and Vestibulocochlear Nerves Using MR Imaging in Patients with Menière Disease
Wilhelm H Flatz1, Annika Henneberger-Kunz2, Regina Schinner3
1From the Department of Radiology (W.H.F., R.S., U.M.-L., M.R), University Hospital, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Germany wilhelm.flatz@med.uni-muenchen.de.
Background And Purpose:
Menière disease (MD) is a condition of unknown etiology, involving genetic predisposition, autoimmune processes, viral infections, cellular apoptosis, and oxidative stress. This study aimed to investigate potential differences in cranial nerves VII and VIII in patients with MD using hydrops MRI (FLAIR) for morphometric evaluations.
Materials And Methods:
Sequences acquired were 3T MRI, CISS, and 3D FLAIR. We evaluated the morphometrics of cranial nerves VII and VIII from the cerebellopontine angle to the internal auditory canal fundus, comparing the nonaffected and affected sides. Furthermore, we examined the findings in relation to symptom duration and evaluated the feasibility of FLAIR in the morphometry of the cranial nerves.
Results:
A total of 53 patients with MD with unilateral symptoms were included. After statistical analysis, no significant differences were found regarding morphometric changes in the affected side compared with the nonaffected side of cranial nerves VII and VIII. There was also no significant difference between the morphometric evaluations of patients with different symptom durations. The morphometric evaluation using hydrops MRI sequences (FLAIR) showed no significant difference compared with established morphometric highly T2-weighted imaging (CISS).
Conclusions:
Our data found no differences in nerve morphometry between clinically nonaffected and affected sides in patients with unilateral MD, nor any correlation with symptom duration. This finding contrasts with previous ones of correlations between clinical features and endolymphatic hydrops. A disease process starting before clinical symptom onset could be a possible explanation. Morphometric evaluation of brain nerves using hydrops MRI sequences is practical and provides similar results compared with T2-weighted imaging, improving patient comfort and reducing MRI scan times.
Insights
This study found no morphometric differences in cranial nerves VII and VIII between affected and unaffected sides in Menière disease (MD) patients. MRI morphometry of these nerves is feasible and comparable to T2-weighted imaging.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Radiology
- Otolaryngology
Background:
- Menière disease (MD) etiology is complex, with potential links to genetics, autoimmunity, viral infections, apoptosis, and oxidative stress.
- Understanding structural changes in cranial nerves is crucial for MD diagnosis and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate morphometric differences in cranial nerves VII and VIII in Menière disease patients.
- To evaluate the utility of hydrops MRI (FLAIR) for cranial nerve morphometry.
Main Methods:
- 3T MRI, CISS, and 3D FLAIR sequences were used.
- Morphometrics of cranial nerves VII and VIII were compared between affected and nonaffected sides in 53 unilateral MD patients.
- Correlation with symptom duration and feasibility of FLAIR for morphometry were assessed.
Main Results:
- No significant morphometric differences were found in cranial nerves VII and VIII between the affected and nonaffected sides.
- Symptom duration did not correlate with observed morphometric changes.
- FLAIR sequences provided morphometric results comparable to CISS (T2-weighted imaging).
Conclusions:
- No nerve morphometry differences were detected between sides in unilateral MD, contrasting with prior findings on hydrops correlation.
- The findings suggest a potential disease process preceding clinical symptom onset.
- Hydrops MRI is a practical tool for cranial nerve morphometry, offering patient comfort and reduced scan times.
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