Delayed intravenous contrast-enhanced 3D FLAIR MRI in Meniere's disease: correlation of quantitative measures of endolymphatic hydrops with hearing.

OBJECTIVE: Using three-dimensional fluid-attenuated inversion recovery magnetic resonance imaging (3D-FLAIR MRI), our goal was to correlate quantifiable measures of endolymphatic hydrops (EH) with auditory function in the setting of Meniere's disease (MD).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-one ears were analyzed in 21 subjects (12 ears with MD, 29 without MD). Vestibular endolymphatic space size measurements obtained with two different techniques were referenced against clinical data.

RESULTS: EH was better evaluated on 3D maximum intensity projections (MIPs) than on two-dimensional (2D) images. Using MIPs, quantitative assessments EH correlated with severity of hearing impairment.

CONCLUSION: 3D MIPs were superior to 2D images for evaluating EH in the setting of MD.