Objective: The characteristics of 3D-FLAIR MRI images of the inner ear of patients with vestibular neuritis were preliminarily studied to explore the possible pathogenesis of vestibular neuritis, and the correlation analysis was conducted in combination with vestibular function to provide a basis for accurate diagnosis of vestibular neuritis. Methods: A total of 36 patients with vestibular neuritis (VN) from December 2019 to October 2020 were collected from the Vertigo Department of Shandong Provincial ENT Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University. There were 36 cases (18 females, 18 males) with unilateral acute vestibular neuritis, 17 cases of left ear and 19 cases of right ear. According to the results of 3D-FLAIR MRI in the inner ears, the patients were divided into the enhanced group and the non-enhanced group (the health side served as the normal control group). The results of vestibular function examination in the two groups were compared. SPSS19.0 software was used for statistical processing to analyze the relationship between the vestibular function and the characteristics of 3D-FLAIR imaging in the inner ears. Results: Abnormal enhancement of 3D-FLAIR was found in 31 cases (86.1%) of the 36 cases, including 14 cases of both vestibular nerve and vestibular terminal organ enhancement, eight cases of superior vestibular nerve enhancement alone, seven cases of vestibular terminal organ enhancement alone, and two cases of cochlear enhancement alone. Observation of abnormal reinforcement of vestibular nerve showed: twenty-one cases of superior vestibular nerve reinforcement, one case of superior and inferior vestibular nerve reinforcement. No abnormalities were found in 3D-FLAIR of inner ear in 5 cases. According to the analysis of vestibular function results, there were 19 cases (52.8%) with total vestibular involvement, sixteen cases (44.4%) with superior vestibular involvement alone, and one case (2.8%) with inferior vestibular involvement alone. Comparison of vestibular function between the five cases (non-enhancement group) and the 31 cases (enhanced group) in the 3D-FLAIR group of the inner ears showed that the CP values of caloric tests in the enhanced group were higher (60.81±3.49 vs 34.12±7.37), with statistically significant difference (t=-2.898, P<0.01). Conclusion: In patients with vestibular neuritis, 3D-FLAIR MRI scan of the inner ear provides visual imaging evidence for clinical practice, considering that the lesion site of vestibular neuritis is not only in the vestibular nerve, but also in the vestibular end organ. Patients with 3D-FLAIR enhanced in the inner ear may have more significant vestibular function damage.
目的： 初步研究前庭神经炎（VN）患者内耳三维快速液体衰减反转恢复磁共振成像（3D-FLAIR MRI）特点，探讨VN可能的发病部位，同时与前庭功能结合进行相关性分析。 方法： 收集山东大学山东省耳鼻喉医院眩晕疾病科2019年12月至2020年10月收治的36例VN患者的临床资料，其中男18例，女18例；年龄25~71岁，平均44.1岁；均为单侧发病，患侧为左耳17例，右耳19例。根据内耳3D-FLAIR MRI结果分为强化组及非强化组（健侧作为正常对照组），比较2组患者前庭功能检查结果，应用SPSS 19.0软件进行统计学处理，分析患者前庭功能与内耳3D-FLAIR特点的关系。 结果： 36例中发现3D-FLAIR异常强化31例（86.1%），其中前庭神经及前庭终器同时强化14例，单纯前庭上神经强化8例，单纯前庭终器强化7例，单纯耳蜗强化2例。观察前庭神经异常强化显示：前庭上神经强化21例，前庭上、下神经强化1例。5例内耳3D-FLAIR未见异常。根据前庭功能结果分析显示全前庭神经受累19例（52.8%），单纯前庭上神经受累16例（44.4%），单纯前庭下神经受累1例（2.8%）。内耳3D-FLAIR强化组31例患者半规管轻瘫值60.81±3.49，非强化组5例患者半规管轻瘫值34.12±7.37，差异有统计学意义（t=-2.898，P<0.01）。 结论： 内耳3D-FLAIR MRI可以为临床提供可视的影像证据，考虑VN的病变部位不仅在前庭神经，还包括前庭终器。内耳3D FLAIR异常强化的患者其前庭功能损伤更显著。.