Analysis of the vestibular aqueduct development on the risk for suffering from idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss

Xintai Fan; Qingping Zhu; Hongling Hou; Lingxiao Hou; Zhe Wang; Hui Zhang; Anting Xu

doi:10.1016/j.anl.2023.01.013

Analysis of the vestibular aqueduct development on the risk for suffering from idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss

Auris Nasus Larynx. 2023 Oct;50(5):733-742. doi: 10.1016/j.anl.2023.01.013. Epub 2023 Feb 14.

Authors

Xintai Fan¹, Qingping Zhu², Hongling Hou², Lingxiao Hou¹, Zhe Wang¹, Hui Zhang¹, Anting Xu³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Otolaryngology, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Shandong University, No.274 Beiyuan Avenue, Jinan, Shandong Province, China.
² Department of Otolaryngology, Chengwu People's Hospital (Chengwu Branch of the Second Hospital of Shandong University), No.66 Bole Avenue, Chengwu, Heze, Shandong Province, China.
³ Department of Otolaryngology, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Shandong University, No.274 Beiyuan Avenue, Jinan, Shandong Province, China. Electronic address: antingxu@sdu.edu.cn.

PMID: 36797195
DOI: 10.1016/j.anl.2023.01.013

Abstract

Objective: Large vestibular aqueduct syndrome (LVAS) is one of the etiology of hearing loss. Clinically, we observed that the VA size of patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) did not meet the diagnostic criteria of VA enlargement, but there were individual variations. Through this study, we want to understand the VA development and explore its risk for suffering from ISSNHL.

Methods: 74 patients with ISSNHL were retrospectively reviewed in our department from June 2018 to September 2021. Meanwhile, 57 people with no ear diseases were randomly selected as the control group. All their clinical information were systematically collected. The axial thin-slice CT images of temporal bone were used to observe and measure the VA in ISSNHL and controls. ISSNHL were classified as different types and grades according to pure tone audiometry and the degree of hearing loss, respectively. Logistic regression analysis was adopted to evaluate the risk factors of different types and grades of ISSNHL.

Results: The operculum morphology could be funnel-shaped, tubular and invisible, but they had no statistical difference in the morbidity of ISSNHL. The operculum width of the affected sides in the case group was significantly wider than that of the matched sides in the control group (0.84±0.35mm vs 0.68±0.34mm, p=0.009), but the midpoint width had no statistical difference (p=0.447). The operculum width was an independent risk factor for the total hearing loss type (p=0.036, OR=4.49, 95% CI=1.10-18.29), moderate (p=0.013, OR=17.62, 95% CI=1.82-170.95) and profound (p=0.031, OR=4.50, 95% CI=1.14-17.67) grade of ISSNHL. Hypertension was an independent risk factor for the severe grade (p=0.004, OR=12.44, 95% CI=2.19-70.64) of ISSNHL. Both the operculum width (p=0.048, OR=7.14, 95% CI=1.02-50.26) and hypertension (p=0.014, OR=6.73, 95% CI=1.46-30.97) were the risk factors for the flat type of ISSNHL. The midpoint width of the VA, gender, age, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and plasma fibrinogen concentration had no significant effect on the risk for suffering from ISSNHL.

Conclusion: The development of the VA operculum is a risk factor for some types and grades of ISSNHL. Hypertension remained a risk factor for ISSNHL.

Keywords: Computed tomography; Hypertension; Risk factor; Sudden sensorineural hearing loss; Vestibular aqueduct.

MeSH terms

Deafness*
Hearing Loss, Sensorineural* / diagnostic imaging
Hearing Loss, Sensorineural* / epidemiology
Hearing Loss, Sudden* / diagnostic imaging
Hearing Loss, Sudden* / epidemiology
Humans
Retrospective Studies
Vestibular Aqueduct* / diagnostic imaging
Vestibular Diseases* / complications