Three‐Dimensional Fluid‐Attenuated Inversion Recovery Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings in Patients with Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Abstract

Half the patients with sudden SNHL examined had high signals in the SNHL-affected ear on 3D-FLAIR at 3 T. High precontrast signals in the inner-ear fluid space may reflect minor hemorrhage, or an increased concentration of protein that had passed through blood vessels with increased permeability, or had originated from disrupted cells in the inner ear. Gadolinium enhancement in one ear suggested the breakdown of the blood-labyrinth barrier. 3D-FLAIR MRI should contribute markedly to the elucidation of pathologic conditions in the inner ears of patients with idiopathic sudden SNHL.

Bilateral cochlear ossification in a patient with Takayasu arteritis

“…Disrupted vascular integrity in the stria vascularis changes the blood barrier permeability in the stria vascularis [15]. In our case, noncontrast FLAIR revealed high signal intensity in the whole cochlea and vestibule (Figure 1), which might reflect an increased concentration of protein passing through blood vessels with increased permeability [17]. These findings support the possibility that SNHL in patients with TAK is caused by the autoimmune response in the membranous labyrinth.…”

Increased Cochlear Fluid-Attenuated Inversion Recovery Signal in Patients with Vestibular Schwannoma

“…[12][13][14] However, to our knowledge, this is the first report of FLAIR signal-intensity abnormalities of the cochlea in patients with vestibular schwannoma. Our study has limitations due to its retrospective design.…”

The Technical and Clinical Features of 3D-FLAIR in Neuroimaging

“…[21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30] A FLAIR image allows the detection of subtle subarachnoid hemorrhage in the CSF space, 9 signal increases in CSF after the inhalation of oxygen, 31 and subtle compositional changes of the labyrinthine fluid (Figs. 6 and 7), 26,27,30,[32][33][34] which can be difficult to recognize on T 1 -weighted images. Heavily T 2 -weighted 3D-FLAIR has been reported to be much more sensitive than regularcontrast 3D-FLAIR.…”

“…32,63 An increased contrast enhancement of the labyrinthine fluid on 3D-FLAIR is sometimes observed in ears with sudden deafness after an intravenous administration of a gadolinium-based contrast material. 32,64 This contrast enhancement suggests the breakdown of the blood-labyrinthine barrier. 63 Prognosis for hearing was not good in ears with a high signal on precontrast 3D-FLAIR.…”