Comparison of gadolinium-enhanced MRI of the inner ear with definite Meniere's disease in the detection of endolymphatic hydrops between intratympanic and intravenous injection.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to compare the success rate of the inner-ear visualization and actual endolymphatic hydrops (EH) detection rate of gadolinium-enhanced MRI in ears with definite Meniere's disease (dMD) with intratympanic versus intravenous injection.

METHODS

122 ears with dMD were included and divided into the intratympanic (IT) administration and intravenous (IV) groups. 38 ears in the IT group were evaluated by 3D-real IR and 3D-FLAIR sequence scans 24 h after injection of 8-fold diluted gadolinium. 84 ears in IV group were evaluated by i3D-real IR sequence scans 4 h after intravenous gadolinium administration. The success rate and the detection rate of EH were evaluated and analysed.

RESULTS

The i3D-real IR sequence in the IV group had a higher success rate (100%) than did the 3D-real IR (76.32%) and 3D-FLAIR (84.21%) sequences in the IT group. The actual EH detection rate in the IV group (98.81%) was significantly higher than that for the 3D-real IR (76.32%), 3D-FLAIR (78.95%) or 3D-real IR + 3D-FLAIR (84.21%) sequences in the IT group. The presence of EH could not accurately be assessed in 15.79% of ears in the IT group due to weak perilymph enhancement. After exclusion of these ears, the IT and IV groups showed similar EH detection rates.

CONCLUSION

The insufficient success rate of IT method reduced its actual EH detection rate. Using i3D-real IR, the IV method offers the higher success and actual EH detection rates, which provides a reference to the individualized choice of gadolinium-enhanced MRI.