Objective To propose a MR scoring methods for spatium perilymphaticum gadolinium opacification and explore the value of their diagnosis of Meniere' s disease. Methods Fifty-one asymptomatic and 65 symptomatic patients with Meniere's disease were enrolled in this study.MR imaging ofspatium perilymphaticum after intratypanic gadolinium injection were analyzed with following scoring method.　( 1 ) Semicircular canal not visualized equal to score 0 ; some visualized equal score 1 ; full visualized equal　score 2.(2)There were high-signal and low-signal in the vestibule,low-signal areas above the lateral　semicircular canal plane equal score 6 ; low signal areas down to lateral semicircular canal plane equal score　3 ; no higher signal in the vestibule area equal score 0.( 3 ) Basal turn of cochlea:full visualized equal score　3; part visualized equal score 2; scala vestibule of basal turn smaller than scala tympani equal score　1 regardless of full or visualized in basal turn; no visualized equal score 0. Medial turn of cochlea:full　visualized equal score 2 ; part visualized equal score 1 ; no visualized equal score 0.Apical turn of cochlea:　visualized equal score 1 ; no visualized equal score 0. One radiologist scored all cases with double blind.　SPSS 17.0 software was used to conduct multiple independent-samples nonparametric tests,multivariate　Logistic regression, and ROC curve analysis. Evaluate the sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis of　Meniere's disease with the scoring system. Results ( 1 ) Meniere's disease summation score 0 to 12,median 9 (quarter spacing 4.5 ) ; no symptoms group summation score 15 to 18,median 17 (quarter spacing 3),two group differences has statistics significance (Wilcoxon rank and inspection U =-9.118,P =0.00).(2)Based on summation score for the diagnosis of Meniere's disease,tangent point was 14.5,Youden index 0.969,specificity 100.0％,sensitivity 96.9％.( 3 ) Let cochlear,vestibular,semicircular canal scoring for association variable,Logistic regression model:LogitP =61.216 - 7.381 × vestibular -3.056 × canal,based on the P value of ROC curves,diagnostic cut-off point 0.651 (vestibular ≤ 3 or semicircular canals ≤ 4 points ),Youden index 96.9％,specifisity 100.0％, sensitivity 96.9％.Conclusions Perilymphatic space of gadolinium contrast MR score in distinguishing Meniere's disease have practical value,any case meet one of following point could be diagnostic:( 1 ) Perilymphatic space of gadolinium contrast MRI total less than 14.5 ; (2) Vestibular low signal areas down more than lateral semicircular canal plane,namely vestibular score value ≤3;( 3 )Semicircular Canal scoring value ≤4.

ObjectiveTo investigate MR imaging features of endolymphatic sac and vestibular aqueduct in patients with large vestibular aqueduct syndrome (LVAS) and its correlation with hearing loss.MethodsMR imaging findings of LVAS were analyzed in 31 cases (62 ears) retrospectively.MR imaging features were grouped into 4 types.In the first type,the signals of endolymphatic and vesitibular aqueduct were hypointense without any hyperintense area.In the second type,the signals of endolymphatic sac and vestibular were hyperintense which were confined within vestibular fissure.In the third type,the area from vestibular aqueduct backward out of the edge of the petrous bone was hyperintense,but its lower boundary was above posterior semicircular.In the fourth type the area which was hyperintense was below the posterior semicircular.To avoid errors in visual inspection,the hyperintense and hypointense area of endolymphatic and the signal intensity of vestibular aqueduct and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)were measured.The differences of signal intensity among the vestibular endolymphatic sac between the high-signal areas and lowsignal areas were compared with paired t-test.The correlation of the endolymphatic sac MRI classification and degree of hearing losswasanalyzedby correctedChi-squaretestandSpearmancorrelation analysis.ResultTen ears belonged to type Ⅰ (moderate hearing loss in 1 ear,severe in 4 ears,profound in 5 ears),17 ears belonged to type Ⅱ ( moderate hearing loss in 1 ear; severe in 5 ears,profound in 11 ears),23 ears to type Ⅲ (moderate hearing loss in 3 ear,severe in 5 ears,profound in 15 ears) and 12 ears belonged to Ⅳ(mild hearing loss in 1 ear,moderate in 1 ear,severe 3 ear,profound in 7 ears).The boundary between hyperintense and hypointense area was clear,and the signal intensity ratios was 2.02 ± 0.06.The signal ratios of hyperintense and hypointense area to vestibular and CSF were 0.95 ±0.12,0.49 ±0.10,0.99 ± 0.08 respecitively.So there was statistical significant difference between hyperintense and hypointense area ( t =- 24.966,P ＜ 0.05 ),but there was no statistical significant difference between hyperintense area and vesitbular( t =-24.966,P ＞ 0.05).There was no difference of hearing loss between different MRI types ( likelihood ratio =5.02,P ＞ 0.05 ).Conclusions Not only endolymphatic sac enlarged but also perilymph herniated into skeletal fissures of vestibular aqueduct in patients with LVAS.The signal intensity of the endolymphatic sac did not show significant correlation with degree of hearing loss.

Objective To evaluate the feasibility and the clinical value of MRI in the diagnosis of small-bowel disease. Methods Sixty-three patients with suspected small-bowel diseases and 3 volunteers without signs of small bowel disease underwent MRI examination. Thirty-one patients whose diagnoses were confirmed by pathology or clinical results were categorized into two groups (neoplastic and normeoplastic). The conspicuity of bowel wall, the sensitivity of MRI in detecting small-bowel lesions, and the accuracy rate of diagnosis were calculated. The average bowel wall thickness between the two groups was assessed by using Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes, mesenteric infiltration, and small-bowel stenosis were analyzed by using Fisher's exact test in each group respectively. Results MRI examinations of all 66 subjects were successfully performed. Images were rated on a continuous 4-peint scale. Sixty-two cases (93.9%) were scored as 2 or 3. The diagnoses of 31 patients (neoplastic group (n = 10) and nonneoplastic group (n = 21) were confirmed by pathology or clinical results. The sensitivity, accuracy of MRI in identifying small bowel diseases were 100% (31/31) and 77.4% (24/31) respectively. The average bowel wall thickness of the two groups was 23 mm(7.0-65.0 mm) and 5 mm(2.0-35.0 mm) respectively, and there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (Z = - 2.949, P < 0.01). Enlarged lymph nodes in mesentery were found in 7 cases in neoplastic group and 4 cases in nonneoplastic group, and there was a statistically significant difference between the two group (P < 0.05). Small-bowel stenosis was depicted in 10 cases in both groups and there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P <0.01). The mesenteric infiltration sign was seen in 5 cases and 17 cases respectively, and showed no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion MRI can depict the location and extension of the small-bowel disease accurately and it is an effective method in the diagnosis of small-bowel disease.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate imaging and audiology features of temporal bone and analyze the classification and prevalence of inner ear abnormalities in children with sensorineural hearing loss. METHOD: Children who were diagnosed with sensorineural hearing loss were examined by high resolution CT and the inner ear fluid of MRI. And each chart was retrospectively reviewed to determine the imaging and audiology features. RESULT: There were 125 patients(232 ears) found with inner ear malformation in 590 children with SNHL. About 21.71% of the inner ear malformation occurred in severe and profound hearing loss ears, and 12.85% occurred in r moderate hearing loss ears. The inner ear malformation rate in normal hearing ears were 13.59%. CONCLUSION CT and MRI examinations of temporal bone are important diagnostic tools to indentify inner ear malformations. Inner ear malformations are almost bilateral and hearing loss are profoud. Cochleo-vestibular malformations and large vestibular aqueduct are the 2 most frequent deformities. Among the children with SNHL, deformity rate in the severe and profound hearing loss ears is higher than that in moderate hearing loss ear. Inner ear malformations can exist in people with normal hearing.
Audiology ; Child ; Ear, Inner ; abnormalities ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; congenital ; pathology ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Temporal Bone ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Vestibular Aqueduct ; abnormalities

Objective To explore the contrast perilymphatic MRI characteristics of inner ears with sudden hearing loss with vertigo.Methods Forty three patients with sudden hearing loss with vertigo and 35 patients with unilateral tinnitus diagnosed by the department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery were retrospectively included.Forty eight ears (38 ears with unilateral sudden hearing loss and 10 ears in 5 cases with bilateral sudden hearing loss) were regarded as sudden hearing loss group,35 asymptomatic ears (the opposite ears of the unilateral tinnitus ears) as control group.Thirty eight opposite ears of the 38 unilateral sudden hearing loss ears and 35 ears of the control group showed normal in the pure tone audiometry exam.One hundred and twenty one ears (48 hearing loss ears,38 opposite ears of the 38 unilateral sudden hearing loss ears and the 35 control group's ears) underwent contrast perilymphatic MR exams,0.4 to 0.5 ml gadolinium hydrate diluted with saline was injected through the tympanic membrane,twenty four hours later,three-dimensional fluid attenuated inversion recovery (3D-FLAIR) sequence was performed using a 3.0 T MRI scanner.After the contrast perilymphatic MR exam,success in the exam was judged through the raw image.The signal intensity ratio (SIR) of cochlea basal turn and homolateral brain stem was quantitatively calculated.The SIR difference of 48 ears with sudden hearing loss and 35 asymptomatic ears in control group was analyzed by t test.The SIR difference of the 38 unilateral sudden hearing loss ears and the contralateral asymptomatic ears was also analyzed.The presence of endolymphatic hydrops was judged.Results The contrast perilymphatic MRI of 121 inner ears with intratympanic gadolinium injection were all successful.Endolymphatic hydrops were observed in 12 sudden hearing loss ears with the occurrence rate of 25％(12/48).The SIR of basal turn and homolateral brain stem of the sudden hearing loss ears (2.062±0.907) were lower than the SIR of the control groups' asymptomatic ears (2.703± 0.640) with significant difference between them (t=3.619,P=0.001),the SIR of basal turn and homolateral brain stem of the unilateral sudden hearing loss ears (1.941 ±0.860) were also lower than the SIR of the contralateral asymptomatic ears (2.411±0.670) with statistical difference between them (t =3.270,P=0.002).Conclusions Endolymphatic hydrops were observed in sudden hearing loss with vertigo.The SIR of the cochlea in sudden hearing loss ears were lower than that of the asymptomatic ears,indicating the abnormal permeability of the round window membrane.

OBJECTIVE: To introduce the efficacy of three surgical options for juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma (JNA) resection, and causes of operative bleeding. METHOD: Retrospective analysis of 36 JNAs,three surgical options were used to resect the tumor. There were 15 cases of Class I tumors , using endoscopic nasal cavity approach. Eighteen cases of class II tumors, via extended Caldwell-Luk incision, using the transantral-infratemporal fosse-nasal cavity combined approach for tumor resection. Three cases of class III tumors, the combined intracranial and extra-cranial approach was used to resect the tumor. Meanwhile, report six typical cases for reference. RESULT: Fifteen (15/36) cases of class I tumors, 14 cases were completely resected for the first time without recurrence, 1 recurrence case was re-resected using the same approach. Eighteen (18/36) cases of class II tumors, 13 cases were completely resected for the first time without recurrence, 5 recurrence cases were re-resected totally. Three (3/36) cases of class III were not completely removed, and underwent about 40 Gy radiotherapy with good effects. CONCLUSION Using these three surgical options can effectively remove different types of JNA. When necessary, the intracranial residue can use radiotherapy. Under direct vision to separate the tumor, and effective hemostasis play crucial roles for complete removal of the tumor.
Adolescent ; Angiofibroma ; surgery ; Blood Loss, Surgical ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical features, diagnosis and prognosis of sudden sensorineural hearing loss accompanied with inner ear hemorrhage.

METHODSEleven cases of sudden sensorineural hearing loss accompanied with inner ear hemorrhage were retrospectively analyzed, including clinical manifestation, hematological and audiological examinations, as well as characteristics of inner ear three-dimensional fluid-attenuated inversion recovery magnetic resonance imaging (3D-FLAIR MRI).

RESULTSEleven cases of sudden hearing loss with inner ear hemorrhage were accompanied by varying degrees of vertigo, lasting from several minutes to several hours, nine of whom had persistent tinnitus. The audiometry curves of the 11 cases included total deafness or flat descending type. The inner ear 3D-FLAIR MRI studies revealed abnormal high signals at different positions of the inner ear, one case with endolymphatic hydrops. After the treatment, seven cases were invalid, two cases had notable effect, and two cases were effective.

CONCLUSIONSAbnormal high signals in the inner ear were sensitively detected by 3D-FLAIR MRI sequence, which was applied for the diagnosis of the sudden hearing loss accompanied with inner ear hemorrhage. The effect of conventional treatment was not good and the appropriate treatments for this type of sudden hearing loss need further investigation.

Audiometry ; Deafness ; complications ; diagnosis ; Ear, Inner ; physiopathology ; Endolymphatic Hydrops ; complications ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; complications ; diagnosis ; Hearing Loss, Sudden ; complications ; diagnosis ; Hemorrhage ; complications ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Tinnitus ; complications ; Vertigo ; complications

OBJECTIVE: To our knowledge, study of the intraoperative profuse bleeding of pterygoid venous plexus (PVP) in large nasopharyngeal angiofibroma resection has not yet been reported. Attention should be paid to this topic in clinical practice. METHOD: From 1981 to 2009, 44 cases of JNAs were treated in our hospital. Twenty-six of 44 cases were large nasopharyngeal angiofibromas according to the Fisch classification system(Fisch type III 16, type IV 10). The amount of intraoperative blood loss in these 26 cases varied from 200 ml to 5200 ml. Factors influencing intraoperative bleeding of 26 large nasopharyngeal angiofibroma resections were analyzed retrospectively. The intra-operative observations and imaging data of three typical cases were hereby studied. RESULT: After embolization of the tumor-supplying branches of the external carotid artery(ECA), both the intraoperative observations and imaging data demonstrated that the pterygoid venous plexus (PVP) played a crucial role in intraoperative hemorrhage. CONCLUSION PVP in the infratemporal fossa communicates with craniofacial veins. There is no valve between these veins. Once PVP is seriously damaged, venous blood of all craniofacial veins will flow out profusely. In the first operation, the intact PVP in the fatty pad generally can be identified and separated from the tumor by delicate surgical managements. If an unsuccessful operation due to serious hemorrhage had been done previously, then scar tissue might tightly adhere with PVP, tumor and the pterygoid muscles, and separation of the tumor from PVP without bleeding is more difficult. Appropriate surgical approach and correct hemostatic procedure of every bleeding point should be done carefully under direct vision. Using finger or instrument for quick blind dissection should be prohibited.
Adolescent ; Angiofibroma ; pathology ; surgery ; Blood Loss, Surgical ; Hemorrhage ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Male ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Veins ; surgery ; Young Adult