Histopathologic Changes of Contralateral Human Temporal Bone in Unilateral Ménière's Disease

Abstract

The contralateral inner ear in patients with unilateral Ménière's disease has significantly more damage compared with inner ears of normal controls.

Auditory and Vestibular Assessment of Patients with Ménière’s Disease Who Suffer Tumarkin Attacks

“…Moreover, when compared to normal controls, there was also significant atrophy in the stria vascularis in the contralateral ear, while the mean loss of inner and outer hair cells at all turns of the cochlea was significantly higher. The number of spiral ganglion cells was also significantly reduced and did not differ from that in the symptomatic ear [Kariya et al, 2007]. This correlated well with the audiometry findings, as a clear correlation between hearing levels in both ears has been found in the quiescent phase as well as during the fluctuations [Takumida et al, 2006].…”

Reliability of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Performed After Intratympanic Administration of Gadolinium in the Identification of Endolymphatic Hydrops in Patients With Ménière's Disease

“…It must be stressed that even in the absence of clinical signs and symptoms of bilaterality, histopathologic changes, such as loss of cochlear hair cells and spiral ganglion cells, degeneration of stria vascularis, and reduced density of fibrocytes in the spiral ligament, have been found in the asymptomatic contralateral ear of the unilateral MD patients (28). The limited number of the patients examined bilaterally in the present investigation does not enable conclusive considerations.…”

Histopathology of Meniere’s Disease

“…6). Other findings with unclear significance have also been reported in temporal bones from donors who had Meniere’s disease, including blockage of the ductus reuniens 16,20,28 (Figs. 7 and 8) and Cupulolithiasis 16,28 (Fig.…”

“…4). 20–23 However, Kariya et al 20 reported these findings: bilateral ischemia of the stria vascularis (Fig. 5); fibrous tissue proliferation within the vestibule; and focal loss of neurons, as well as degeneration of the dendrites, in the upper middle and apical turns of the cochlea (Fig.…”

“…30–33 The contralateral ears often show signs of cochlear degeneration, including severe loss of cochlear hair cells, significant damage of the stria vascularis, and loss of spiral ganglion cells; 20% of them also have histologic endolymphatic hydrops. 20 …”