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Comparative Study
. 2024 Apr 22;24(1):93.
doi: 10.1186/s12880-024-01275-8.

Comparison of vestibular aqueduct visualization on computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in patients with Ménière's disease

Kaijun Xia #  1 , Ping Lei #  2 , Yingzhao Liu  1 , Cen Chen  2 , Hui Pan  1 , Yangming Leng  3 , Bo Liu  4
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Comparison of vestibular aqueduct visualization on computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in patients with Ménière's disease

Kaijun Xia et al. BMC Med Imaging. .

Abstract

Background: The vestibular aqueduct (VA) serves an essential role in homeostasis of the inner ear and pathogenesis of Ménière's disease (MD). The bony VA can be clearly depicted by high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), whereas the optimal sequences and parameters for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are not yet established. We investigated VA characteristics and potential factors influencing MRI-VA visibility in unilateral MD patients.

Methods: One hundred patients with unilateral MD underwent MRI with three-dimensional sampling perfection with application optimized contrasts using different flip angle evolutions (3D-SPACE) sequence and HRCT evaluation. The imaging variables included MRI-VA and CT-VA visibility, CT-VA morphology and CT-peri-VA pneumatization.

Results: The most frequent type of MRI-VA and CT-VA visualization was invisible VA and continuous VA, respectively. The MRI-VA visibility was significantly lower than CT-VA visibility. MRI-VA visibility had a weak positive correlation with ipsilateral CT-VA visualization. For the affected side, the MRI-VA visualization was negatively correlated with the incidence of obliterated-shaped CT-VA and positively with that of tubular-shaped CT-VA. MRI-VA visualization was not affected by CT-peri-VA pneumatization.

Conclusion: In patients with MD, the VA visualization on 3D-SPACE MRI is poorer than that observed on CT and may be affected by its osseous configuration. These findings may provide a basis for further characterization of VA demonstrated by MRI and its clinical significance.

Keywords: Computed tomography; Magnetic resonance imaging; Ménière’s disease; Vestibular aqueduct.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Vestibular aqueduct (VA) grading on the Pöschl planes on three-dimensional sampling perfection with application optimized contrasts using different flip angle evolutions (3D-SPACE). a Grade A with a continuous VA (arrow). b Grade B with a discontinuous VA (arrow). c Grade C with a no visible VA
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The visibility of vestibular aqueduct (VA) grading on the Pöschl planes on temporal bone CT. a Grade 0 with a continuous VA (arrow). b Grade I with a discontinuous VA (arrow). c Grade II with a complete ossification of VA
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Various types of vestibular aqueduct (VA). a funnel type. b tubular type. c filiform type. d hollow type. e obliterated type
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Different types of peri-aqueductal pneumatization. a Large-cell pneumatization (arrow) in the vicinity of the aqueduct. b Small-cell pneumatization (arrow) in the vicinity of the aqueduct. c Absence of air cell
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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