Association of cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potential tuning property test results with MRI findings of endolymphatic hydrops in Meniere’s disease

• Published in: European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology 2021-09, Vol.278 (9), p.3267-3273
• Main Authors: Murofushi, Toshihisa, Tsubota, Masahito, Kanai, Yasuhisa, Endo, Hideho, Ushio, Munetaka
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Head and Neck Surgery; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Neurosurgery; Otology; Otorhinolaryngology
• ISSN: 0937-4477; 1434-4726
• DOI: 10.1007/s00405-020-06410-z

Purpose To examine the concordance between cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP) tuning property test results and MRI findings of endolymphatic hydrops (EH). Methods Fourteen subjects (age 24–76 years) that had been diagnosed with unilateral definite Meniere’s disease (MD) ( N  = 8) or unilateral probable MD ( N  = 6) were enrolled. All of the subjects underwent cVEMP tests (using 500 Hz and 1000 Hz tone bursts), pure-tone audiometry, and gadolinium-enhanced 3 T-MRI. To examine tuning properties of cVEMP, the 500–1000 Hz amplitude ratio was calculated as the SLOPE. The results of the cVEMP tuning property test results were compared with EH-related MRI findings. Results EH positivity in both the cochlea and vestibule on MRI was observed in 7 of the 8 affected ears of definite MD and 3 of the 6 affected ears of probable MD, although it was only in one of the 14 unaffected ears. EH(+) or no response (NR) in cVEMP tuning property test was significantly associated with EH positivity on MRI, while EH(-) in the cVEMP tuning property test was significantly associated with EH-negativity on MRI ( p  = 0.0016 Fisher’s exact test test). Conclusion EH(+) or NR in the cVEMP tuning property test correspond well to EH positivity in the MRI findings. The cVEMP tuning property test is useful for screening and following up EH.