Introduction: Cochlear implantation in patients with Ménière's disease (MD) is the treatment of choice in cases of functional deafness. Additional vertigo control is of central importance in this group of patients. Endolymphatic hydrops (ELH) is the pathophysiological correlate of MD and can be evaluated by magnet resonance imaging (MRI). Bilateral MD occurs in 10-33% and can be the reason for a postoperative persisting or newly occurring vertigo in this group. Recent developments in the field of implant magnets and experience in MRI sequences allow the diagnostic performance of MRI in cochlear implantees to be evaluated. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the possibility of MRI as a visual diagnostic tool for endolymphatic hydrops in cochlear implantees.
Material and methods: This was a retrospective study including three cochlear implantees (age: 61-76 years, one female, two male) suffering from MD who, postoperatively, had a recurrence of vertigo with Ménière's-like symptoms. An MRI was performed for the evaluation of ELH (ELH-MRI). MRI observation was performed by a 4 h iv. delayed Gad 3 D Flair sequence.
Results: In all cases, the ipsilateral implant magnet artifact covered the vestibulum, the semicircular canals and the cochlea. The contralateral vestibulum, the semicircular canal and the cochlea were fully observable, and a classification of the ELH-MRI could be performed.
Conclusion: ELH-MRI scanning allows for the detection of contralateral labyrinthine endolymphatic hydrops and is a tool for the postoperative evaluation of vertigo in cochlear implantees.
Keywords: cochlea implant; endolymphatic hydrops; magnet resonance imaging; morbus Ménière.