Endolymphatic Hydrops Secondary to Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension

Headache. 2020 Sep;60(8):1812-1813. doi: 10.1111/head.13866. Epub 2020 Jun 16.

Abstract

Background: Spontaneous intracranial hypotension may be associated with neuro-otological symptoms that might mimic Menière's disease.

Case presentation: We report the case of a 53-year-old male presenting bi-frontal headache with recurrent spells of vertigo, left fluctuating hearing loss, and tinnitus. Dedicated brain and inner ear Magnetic Resonance Imaging, including a post-contrast 4 hours delayed FLAIR sequence, revealed typical signs of spontaneous intracranial hypotension associated with endolymphatic hydrops involving the left saccule and cochlea.

Conclusions: Audio vestibular manifestations mimicking Menière's disease in spontaneous intracranial hypotension could be explained by endolymphatic hydrops, which can be detected using dedicated magnetic resonance imaging sequences.

Keywords: case report; endolymphatic hydrops; inner ear; intracranial hypotension; magnetic resonance imaging.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Endolymphatic Hydrops / diagnosis*
  • Endolymphatic Hydrops / etiology
  • Headache / diagnosis*
  • Headache / etiology
  • Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / diagnosis*
  • Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / etiology
  • Humans
  • Intracranial Hypotension / complications
  • Intracranial Hypotension / diagnosis*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Tinnitus / diagnosis*
  • Tinnitus / etiology
  • Vertigo / diagnosis*
  • Vertigo / etiology