Frequency of cochlear enhancement on magnetic resonance imaging in patients with autoimmune sensorineural hearing loss.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans for enhancement of inner ear structures of patients with sensorineural hearing loss and documented antibodies to the 68-kd inner ear antigen. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective case review with reexamination of MRI scans. SETTING Outpatient office. PATIENTS Thirty-five patients with autoimmune sensorineural hearing loss defined by audiograms documenting a sensorineural hearing deficit in one or both ears and the presence of an anti-inner ear antibody (68-kd band) in serum samples who underwent precontrast and postcontrast T1-weighted axial and coronal MRI scans of the inner ear, which were performed concurrently with the hearing loss. INTERVENTIONS Diagnostic. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Frequency and intensity of cochlear enhancement on MRI scans. RESULTS One patient demonstrated +2 cochlear enhancement. However, that finding was thought to represent postoperative inflammatory change. CONCLUSION No correlation was found between the presence of antibodies to inner ear antigen in patients with hearing loss and cochlear enhancement on MRI scans.