[Imaging of the labyrinth and vestibular nerve. Clinical significance for differential diagnosis of vestibular diseases]

Nervenarzt. 1997 Jun;68(6):443-58. doi: 10.1007/s001150050147.
[Article in German]

Abstract

High resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HR-MRI) and computed tomography (HR-CT) of the inner ear are becoming more important for the diagnosis of peripheral vestibular lesions. Modern HR-MRI techniques allow visualization of detailed anatomic features of the vestibulo-cochlear regions as well as pathologic findings in the inner ear such as, neoplastic lesions (e.g., small intracanalicular acoustic neuromas), anomalies causing vertigo and hearing loss (e.g. Mondini's-malformation, perilymph fistula, vestibular paroxysmia), and inflammatory diseases (e.g., Cogan's syndrome, labyrinthitis, zoster neuritis). HR-CT is still the first examination that should be performed in patients with middle ear diseases (e.g., tumor, infection), trauma (e.g. temporal bone fractures), or fibro-osseous diseases. Although the imaging of the vestibulo-cochlear system has dramatically improved, there are still several peripheral vestibular disorders that cannot be visualized so far, e.g., benign paroxysmal positioning vertigo, idopathic vestibular neuritis or Menière's disease.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Ear, Inner / pathology
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Labyrinth Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
  • Neuroma, Acoustic / diagnosis*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed*
  • Vestibular Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Vestibule, Labyrinth / pathology