Cutting edge of inner ear MRI

Conclusion: Recent advances in clinical MR imagers, such as the 3-Tesla, multi-channel phased-array coil and novel pulse sequences, allow the evaluation of subtle alterations in the inner ear fluid environments and breakdown of the blood-labyrinthine barrier. Intratympanic injection of Gd-DTPA allows the imaging detection of endolymphatic hydrops in patients. Objectives: To describe the current status of inner ear MRI and future directions for imaging. Materials and methods: Based on our experiences and literature research, a brief review of the history and recent developments of inner ear MRI is presented. Results: The 3D-FLAIR technique can detect abnormalities that could not be visualized previously in many inner ear diseases, such as sudden deafness, otosclerosis, lupus erythematosus, mumps, and Ramsay-Hunt syndrome. Imaging techniques, indications, and findings for the visualization of endolymphatic hydrops after intratympanic injection of GdDTPA are also discussed. This procedure enabled the visualization of endolymphatic hydrops in vivo. Newly developed 3D-real IR techniques and utilities of 32 channel coil are also presented.