Does Obesity Predispose Patients to Superior Semicircular Canal Dehiscence?

Superior semicircular canal dehiscence (SSCD) is an otologic condition characterized by a bony roof defect of the superior semicircular canal, which can result in auditory and vestibular symptoms. Given the proposed associations between elevated intracranial pressure and SSCD development, as well as the established relationship between obesity and intracranial hypertension, we hypothesized that a higher body mass index (BMI) would be associated with an increased radiographic prevalence of SSCD.

We evaluated consecutive adult patients who underwent high-resolution temporal bone CT at a tertiary academic medical center between February 2012 and August 2017. Patients were excluded if their BMI was unavailable or recorded ≥365 days from their imaging date. Two board-certified neuroradiologists independently assessed scans for SSCD, blinded to symptoms and BMI. Symptoms were obtained through chart review and classified as either potentially SSCD-related (vertigo, dizziness, or hearing loss) or unrelated. BMI data were collected by an author blinded to SSCD status. The median BMI was compared across groups stratified by sex, SSCD status, and symptom presence. Statistical analyses included Mann-Whitney U tests, χ² tests, and linear regression.

Among the 591 patients included, 61.1% were male, with a mean age of 48.9 (SD, 19.0) years. The median (interquartile range [IQR]) BMI was 27.50 (7.64), with no significant associations observed between BMI and either age or sex. There was no significant difference in the BMI between patients with and without SSCD (median, 26.79; IQR, 8.96 versus 27.50 [7.60], P =.67). SSCD prevalence did not differ between obesity classifications (P = .43). Among patients without symptoms attributable to SSCD, there was no difference in the mean BMI between those with and without SSCD (26.20 [9.40] versus 27.40 [7.35]; P = .79). Similarly, among patients with symptoms potentially SSCD-related, BMI did not differ on the basis of SSCD status (28.35 [8.15] versus 28.34 [8.19]; P = .91). Interrater reliability for imaging assessment was excellent (κ = 0.91).

There was no statistically significant association between BMI and the radiologic presence of SSCD. These findings suggest that BMI and obesity are unlikely to represent independent risk factors for SSCD and that management should prioritize symptomatology and diagnostic testing over biometric factors.