Endolymphatic Hydrops on Magnetic Resonance Imaging May Be an Independent Finding on Aging in Neurotologic Patients.

OBJECTIVE

To clarify whether age impacts the development of endolymphatic hydrops (ELH) in neurotologic patients. Documentation of ELH in living patients on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allows analysis of patient age and formation of ELH, which is impossible by means of postmortem temporal bone pathology.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective case review.

SETTING

Tertiary referral center.

PATIENTS

Fifty patients (100 ears) with top 3 diagnoses of definite Menière's disease, delayed ELH, or probable Menière's disease.

INTERVENTIONS

Endolymph MRI after intravenous gadolinium injection and pure-tone audiometry.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Cochlear and vestibular ELH confirmed by MRI.

RESULTS

The prevalences of ears showing both cochlear and vestibular ELH were similar among age groups <30 years (30%), 30-59 years (25.9%), and ≥60 years (34.4%; p > 0.05; χ2 test). Using logistic regression modeling, mean hearing level at the six frequencies was positively associated with a higher risk of cochlear ELH (odds ratio, 1.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-1.5 per 10-dB increment). In the same regression model, age did not impact the outcome of cochlear ELH (odds ratio, 1.0; 95%confidence interval, 0.7-1.4 per 10-year increment). Age did not differ among ears with no ELH (mean ± standard deviation age, 48.6 ± 14.4 yr), ears with only cochlear ELH (59.3 ± 10.7 yr), ears with only vestibular ELH (50.4 ± 16.9 yr), or ears with both cochlear and vestibular ELH (51.5 ± 18.4 yr; p > 0.05, analysis of variance).

CONCLUSION

Chronological age was not associated with the formation of ELH. Aging per se may not be associated with the development of ELH in neurotologic patients.