Brain Sciences (Jul 2024)

MRI-Based Inner Ear Assessment and Cochlin Tomoprotein-Based Evaluation of Perilymphatic Fistula in Patients with Sudden Hearing Loss

  • Rayoung Kim,
  • Denis Mihailovic,
  • Conrad Riemann,
  • Alexander Kilgué,
  • Christoph Joachim Pfeiffer,
  • Hans-Björn Gehl,
  • Lars-Uwe Scholtz,
  • Ingo Todt

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci14070681
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14, no. 7
p. 681

Abstract

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Objectives: To study the correlation between positive cochlin tomoprotein testing (CTP), magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, and the auditory and vestibular function amongst patients with sudden hearing loss. Study Design: Prospective case series. Methods: We prospectively examined eight patients who presented with sudden hearing loss (>60 dB) with or without vertigo or tinnitus. We performed an ELISA-based CTP detection test using middle ear lavage samples. In addition to the CTP examination, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination was performed using different sequences (T1 and a T1 sequence with a contrast medium (CM), a T2 sequence, 4 h delayed intravenous gadolinium-enhanced three-dimensional fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (3D FLAIR)). Results: All patients with sudden hearing loss (>60 dB) presented a non-specific contrast enhancement in the cochlea and vestibulum on the affected side on delayed 3D-FLAIR MRI. Four patients had a positive CTP test, suggesting a perilymphatic fistula (PLF). However, no specific MRI signal for a PLF was observed. Conclusions: Using multimodal diagnostic measures, such as CTP testing and different MRI sequences, no correlation could be found in patients with a PLF.

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