Normal modiolus: CT appearance in patients with a large vestibular aqueduct.

Abstract

CT is an excellent technique for depicting the cochlear modiolus. Results suggest that all ears with a large vestibular aqueduct have associated cochlear modiolar deficiencies. Thus, a large vestibular aqueduct may be only occasionally, if ever, an isolated developmental anomaly of the inner ear.

MR Imaging of the Cochlear Modiolus after Intratympanic Administration of Gd-DTPA

“…Various reports have investigated the shape and structure of the cochlear modiolus in patients with enlarged endolymphatic duct and sac syndrome, [9][10][11] agenesis of the cochlear nerve, 6 and X-linked sensorineural hearing loss 12 and in those who are candidates for a cochlear implant. 13 The cochear modiolus is also a target structure for future cell replacement therapy of the inner ear.…”

Endolymphatic Hydrops of the Labyrinth Visualized on Noncontrast MR Imaging: A Case Report

“…[9][10][11][12] Theˆrst is that cerebrospinal ‰uid (CSF) pressure in the internal auditory canal is transmitted through an insu‹ciently developed cochlear modiolus to inner-ear hair cells, but reports of normal-sized cochlear modioli in some cases of this syndrome 9 seem to refute this theory. The other theory is that the hyperosmolar ‰uid in the endolymphatic duct and sac re‰uxes into the labyrinth and damages hair cells.…”

When Is the Vestibular Aqueduct Enlarged? A Statistical Analysis of the Normative Distribution of Vestibular Aqueduct Size

“…Reports in the literature describe the features of modiolar hypoplasia, VA and endolymph duct enlargements, and endolymph sac enlargement in the large endolymphatic duct and sac syndrome. 5,14,[21][22][23][24] We believe that the statistical approach set forth in this paper will prove useful for evaluation of the size of all these labyrinthine structures.…”