Assessment of the reuniting duct by three-dimensional CT rendering

Blockage pattern of longitudinal flow in Meniere's disease

CONCLUSION

In the present study, classification of the patterns of 3D CT images of the ductus reuniens (reuniting duct) (RD), saccular duct (SD), and endolymphatic sinus (ES) gave more precise information for assessing the pathological condition of Meniere's disease (MD) than our previous study.

OBJECTIVE

This study attempted to provide more detailed information on MD by classifying the patterns of 3D CT images of the RD, SD, and ES in patients with MD.

METHODS

We examined the ears of 62 patients with definitely diagnosed unilateral MD based on the criteria of the Committee on Hearing and Equilibrium of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) using 3D CT. The 3D CT images of bony grooves of RD, SD, and ES (BRD, BSD, and BES) were classified into patterns according to aspects of their patency.

RESULTS

BRD could be classified into six types by assessing their patency defined using the criteria in this study. In the ears on the affected side of patients with MD, the BRD, BSD, and BES lost continuity in 3D CT images along their bony routes and were significantly different from normal healthy ears (p < 0.01). There were no significant differences among each stage of MD in the distributions of BRD and BES except for BSD.

Assessment of Meniere's disease from a radiological aspect - saccular otoconia as a cause of Meniere's disease?

CONCLUSION

Significant reduced visualization of the reuniting duct (ductus reuniens; RD), saccular duct (SD) and endolymphatic sinus (ES) in Meniere's disease (MD) compared with normal control ears on three-dimensional (3D) CT imaging suggests the blockage of endolymphatic flow there with radiodense substances, which may be explained by dislodged otoconia from the saccule. These structures could be involved in the pathogenesis of MD.

OBJECTIVE

This study was designed to visualize and assess the RD, SD and ES in patients with MD using 3D CT.

METHODS

Sixty-two patients with a definite diagnose of unilateral MD, based on criteria proposed by the Committee on Hearing and Equilibrium of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS), were compared with contralateral ears and normal controls (26 ears) using 3D CT. The RD, SD and ES were scrutinized for patency on 3D CT images.

RESULTS

MD ears showed loss of continuity of the RD, SD and ES based on evaluation of 3D CT images, and differed significantly from normal healthy control ears (p < 0.01).

Visualization and assessment of saccular duct and endolymphatic sinus

CONCLUSION

The saccular duct and endolymphatic sinus run in the bony groove, before reaching the orifice of the vestibular aqueduct. We first clinically visualized this sulciform groove using three-dimensional (3D) cone beam CT images. This strategy can be useful to assess the condition of the saccular duct and endolymphatic sinus concerning the longitudinal flow system of endolymph.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the saccular duct and endolymphatic sinus in the endolymphatic system in order to advance clinical studies on inner ear dysfunction.

METHODS

The sulciform groove of the saccular duct and endolymphatic sinus of human subjects was analyzed by cone beam CT and compared with that of a cadaver.

RESULTS

We could obtain reconstructed 3D CT images of the sulciform groove of the saccular duct and endolymphatic sinus using several CT window levels.