Endolymphatic hydrops revealed by intravenous gadolinium injection in patients with Meniere's disease

Abstract

Endolymphatic hydrops was observed in the ears of patients with Ménière's disease. However, Gd concentration in the perilymph was lower compared with that obtained after intratympanic Gd injection.

Contrast enhancement of the inner ear after intravenous administration of a standard or double dose of gadolinium contrast agents

“…Based on the results of previous studies [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8], we used a scan delay of 4 h after intravenous Gd HP-DO3A or Gd DTPA-BMA injection to obtain strong signal in the inner ear. MRI scans were performed using a 3 T MR unit (Trio; Siemens, Erlangen, Germany) and a receive-only 32-channel phasedarray coil.…”

“…We succeeded in obtaining endolymphatic space imaging by 3 T MR after intravenous injection of a double dose of gadoteridol (Gd HP-DO3A) [3]. Because administration of a double dose of intravenous Gd is not covered by the Japanese government health insurance system, except for use in the diagnosis of tumor metastases in the brain, an effective method of endolymphatic space imaging after an intravenous standard dose of Gd is essential so that endolymphatic space imaging can be widely clinically applied.…”

“…A method for endolymphatic space imaging by 3 Tesla (3 T) magnetic resonance (MR) after intratympanic injection of gadolinium (Gd) has recently been developed [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]. It gives useful information concerning the presence or absence of endolymphatic hydrops and the inner ear distribution of drugs such as steroids or gentamicin that are applied transtympanically.…”

Contrast enhancement of the inner ear in magnetic resonance images taken at 10 minutes or 4 hours after intravenous gadolinium injection

“…Visualization of EH after intravenous doubledose Gd administration has been reported and is useful to evaluate the blood-labyrinth barrier in patients with inner ear diseases [7,11]. Such visualization would be used more widely in clinical practice if it could be based on a standard intravenous dose of Gd.…”

“…Visualization of endolymphatic hydrops (EH) has been done using three-dimensional fluid-attenuated inversion recovery magnetic resonance imaging (3D-FLAIR MRI) after intratympanic [1,[4][5][6] or intravenous [7][8][9] Gd injection. The intratympanic Gd administration method is superior to the intravenous method in providing Gd enhancement and quality of imaging.…”