[Clinical research of sudden sensorineural hearing loss due to inner-ear hemorrhage]

Abstract

Objective: This study addresses the characters of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and clinical features, and curative effects in the screening of SSNHL due to inner-ear hemorrhage.

Methods: MRI and relevant audiometric test were given to 160 patients with SSNHL, who were hospitalized in the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from January 2011 to April 2013. The clinical features and curative effects of patients with high signals in the labyrinth on MRI were analyzed.

Results: MRI abnormities were found in 22 (13.8%) of the patients. Specifically, eight cases were considered for inner-ear hemorrhage. For the eight inner-ear hemorrhage cases, clinical features included the sudden onset of complete hearing loss, which worsened within several hours. Pure tone audiometry indicated profound sensorineural deafness. The prevalence of inner-ear hemorrhage was 5% in SSNHL cases and 18.6% in cases of profound sensorineural. MRI showed high signal intensity in the cochlear, semicircular canals or vestibule on unenhanced T1-weighted and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery images. The high signal intensity in the inner ear gradually degraded in six months. There was no improvement in hearing for the patients with inner-ear hemorrhage following symptomatic therapy.

Conclusion: SSNHL due to inner-ear hemorrhage is characterized by profound sensorineural deafness in all frequencies, and high signal intensity for the hemorrhagic inner ear on T1-weighted MRI, with poor prognosis.