The effect of ultrasound on Meniere's disease.

Among 22 patients with Meniere's disease treated with ultrasonic irradiation, only eight showed extinguished caloric reaction. Long-term therapeutic effect had been obtained in all the patients, Histological examination of the lateral semicircular canal and the crista ampullaris from five patients previously treated with ultrasound for Meniere's disease showed the following changes: (1) In the subepithelial tissue in crista ampullairs no signs of degeneration were found. The nerve fibres were normal. (2) The sensory cells with nerve-endings and supporting cells also appeared normal. (3) The secretory cells showed pronounced cellular vacuolization and increased intercellular space. (4) The lateral semicircular canal was completely obliterated with destruction of the membranous canal. It is concluded that the therapeutic effect may be due to the creation of an endolymphatic fistula.