Radiological examination of the inner ear of deaf-mutes presenting the cervico-oculo-acusticus syndrome

Mondini Dysplasia

Mondini dysplasia is characterized by a short flat cochlea, large vestibule, wide, small or missing semicircular canals, and immature sensorineural structures. It may occur in association with anomalies of other organs or it may occur in isolation. In some cases the footplate of the stapes is defective, leading to spontaneous perilymphatic fistula and meningitis.

Wildervanck's syndrome with severe inner ear dysplasia and agenesis of the right internal carotid artery

We describe a case with Wildervanck syndrome (cervico-oculo-acoustic syndrome) comprising Klippel-Feil anomaly, retractio bulbi (Duane syndrome), and congenital sensorineural deafness. An 18-month male baby had a severe inner ear dysplasia, and MRI also showed a complex vascular carotid malformation associated.

Wildervanck syndrome associated with cleft palate and short stature

We report a case of Wildervanck syndrome exhibiting Klippel-Feil anomaly, Duane retraction syndrome and deafness. Since the first case was reported in 1952, there have been more reports describing this triad, either complete or incomplete. Our patient had the complete triad of the syndrome along with cleft palate and short stature. Also, a review of the literature regarding this syndrome is presented here.

Congenital sensorineural hearing loss and enlarged endolymphatic sac and duct: role of magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography

During the past 20 years, there have been significant advances in cochlear implants as the treatment of choice for profoundly hearing-impaired children. The increasing application of cochlear implant has brought with it an increase in the investigational use of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. In this article, the author reviews (a) the anatomy and embryology of the inner ear, (b) the pathological changes associated with congenital sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), and (c) the spectrum of imaging findings in patients with SNHL.

Familial Mondini dysplasia

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS

To determine the mode of inheritance of familial nonsyndromic Mondini dysplasia.

STUDY DESIGN

Correlative clinical genetic analysis of a single kindred.

METHODS

Clinical history, physical examination, audiologic analysis, computed tomography of the temporal bones, and cytogenetic analysis.

RESULTS

The male proband, three affected sisters, and an affected brother are offspring of unaffected parents. The mother and an unaffected brother have audiologic findings suggestive of heterozygous carrier status for a recessive hearing loss gene.

CONCLUSIONS

Pedigree analysis indicates autosomal recessive inheritance in this family. The observed inheritance and clinical, audiologic, and radiologic findings are different from those previously described for another family with nonsyndromic Mondini dysplasia. The phenotype in this study family therefore represents a distinct subtype, indicating clinical and genetic heterogeneity of this disorder. This information should facilitate future molecular linkage analyses and genetic counselling of patients with inner ear malformations.

Familial sensorineural hearing loss: a correlative study of audiologic, radiographic, and vestibular findings

A multidisciplinary approach to the study of a family with autosomal dominant sensorineural hearing loss is presented. The affected family members underwent extensive clinical and laboratory evaluation. They were found to have various degrees of bilateral congenital inner ear anomalies as imaged by computed tomography. The degree of structural abnormalities in the inner ears correlated with the severity of hearing impairment. Vestibular testing revealed nonspecific abnormalities generally correlating with audiologic and radiographic findings. This report presents a unique form of sensorineural hearing loss not previously described and is the first in-depth clinical study of nonsyndromal "Mondini dysplasia" occurring in a family.

Wildervanck's syndrome--unilateral Mondini dysplasia identified by computed tomography

We present a case of the Wildervanck (cervico-oculo-acoustic) syndrome exhibiting congenital deafness. Klippel-Feil anomaly and lateral rectus palsy with enophthalmos. Audiometry indicated a predominantly conductive loss which, because of masking difficulties, was assumed to be bilateral: an erroneous assumption supported by results of conventional petrous bone tomography which failed to demonstrate any abnormality of the inner ears. Computed tomography (CT), however, revealed a severe Mondini dysplasia of one ear, a condition which must be assumed to be associated with severe sensorineural hearing loss. Reconstructive middle ear surgery for the conductive loss on the other side was therefore contraindicated.

Mondini cochlea in Pendred's syndrome. A histological study

In the past the Mondini malformation of the cochlea has been described histologically on the basis of findings in one temporal bone from a patient with confirmed Pendred's syndrome. The present study presents the histological examination of six temporal bones from 5 patients with confirmed Pendred syndrome. The characteristic Mondini cochlea was found in all preparations. It is concluded that the inner ear malformation in Pendred's syndrome is more in accordance with Mondini's original description than in other syndromes in which a Mondini-like cochlea has been described.

Wildervanck syndrome--the external appearance and radiologic findings

Wildervanck syndrome is a combination of congenital anomalies characterized by deafness, Klippel-Feil deformity, and an unusual ocular motility disturbance called Duane retraction syndrome. This syndrome is seen infrequently in the general population and may not be recognized since the external appearance of the ears may be normal, and the unusual form of strabismus may not be obvious to the non-ophthalmologist. Patients with the full extent of this triad have a unique appearance. CT examination in these patients delineates the cervical anomalies as well as the inner ear deformity.

Wildervanck's syndrome with bilateral subluxation of lens and facial paralysis

A 15-year-old female was found to have the typical features of Wildervanck's syndrome, including Klippel-Feil anomaly, abducens paralysis, retraction of the bulbi, and deafness. In addition, she had bilateral lens subluxation and facial paralysis, neither of which have been reported in patients with Wildervanck's syndrome.

delta beta-Thalassaemia in Sicily: report of a case of double heterozygosity for A gamma delta beta-thalassaemia and A gamma G gamma delta beta-thalassaemia

A case of double heterozygosity for A gamma delta beta-thalassaemia and A gamma G gamma delta beta-thalassaemia was found during a screening programme in Sicily. The proband, a 4-year-old girl, showed a clinical picture of thalassaemia intermedia. Hb F (85.12% by the Singer method) was G gamma A gamma type. The parents and the brother were delta beta-thalassaemia carriers. Structural analysis of Hb F showed both G gamma and A gamma chains in the father, but only A gamma chains in the mother.

Otological findings in cervico-oculo-auditory dysplasia

A case of congenital ear dysplasia, combined with cleft palate and anomalies of the cervical spine and eyes, is described. The case belongs to the group of cervico-ocular-auditory dysplasias (Klippel-Feil syndrome). A strange feature in our case was the co-existence of conductive hypakousia in the right ear, due to congenital fixation of the stapes footplate, with perceptive deafness in the left ear, due to dysplasia of the cochlea and internal auditory meatus. The conductive hypakousia in the right ear was successfully treated by stapedectomy. A review of the literature on the Klippel-Feil syndrome has shown that, in some of them the conductive deafness was unexplained, while in others the deafness was due to dysplasia of the ossicular chain or to a combination of dysplasias of the labyrinth and middle ear in the same ear. The co-existence of middle ear dysplasia in one ear with contralateral dysplasia of the inner ear and internal auditory meatus is rare.

The Wildervanck syndrome: cervico-oculo-acoustic dysplasia

The Wildervanck syndrome consists of the Klippel-Feil deformity of the spine, eyeball retraction, lateral gaze weakness, and hearing loss. Conductive hearing loss, as well as a more frequently occurring sensorineural hearing loss, is caused by dysplasia of the inner ear. Typically, polytomograms demonstrate a bulbous vestibule and dilated lateral semicircular canals with basilar impression of the skull. The Duane's eyeball retraction phenomenon completes the syndrome; this may be explained either by misdirected innervation of the extraocular muscles or by atrophy or fibrosis of the lateral rectus muscles.

Cervico-oculo-acusticus syndrome with pseudopapilloedema

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