• Shinji Naganawa, Shunichi Ishihara, Shingo Iwano, Michihiko Sone, and Tsutomu Nakashima.
• Department of Radiology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan. naganawa@med.nagoya-u.ac.jp
• J Magn Reson Imaging. 2010 Jan 1; 31 (1): 210-4.

PurposeTo enable volume visualization of endolymphatic hydrops of Ménière's disease via a volume rendering (VR) technique, a three-dimensional (3D) inversion-recovery (IR) sequence with real reconstruction (3D-real IR) sequence after intratympanic injection of Gd-DTPA was optimized for higher spatial resolution using a 32-channel head coil at 3T.Materials And MethodsPulse sequence parameters were optimized using a diluted Gd-DTPA phantom. Then, 11 patients who had been clinically diagnosed with Ménière's disease and a patient with sudden hearing loss were scanned. Images were processed using commercially available 3D-VR software. 3D-real IR data was processed to produce endolymph and perilymph fluid volume images in different colors. 3D-CISS data was processed to generate total fluid volume images.ResultsWhile maintaining a comparable signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and scan time, the voxel volume could be reduced from 0.4 x 0.4 x 2 mm(3) with a 12-channel coil to 0.4 x 0.4 x 0.8 mm(3) with a 32-channel coil. A newly-optimized protocol allowed the smooth, three-dimensional visualization of endolymphatic hydrops in all patients with Ménière's disease.ConclusionVolumetrically separate visualization of endo-/perilymphatic space is now feasible in patients with Ménière's disease using an optimized 3D-real IR sequence, a 32-channel head coil, at 3T, after intratympanic administration of Gd-DTPA. This will aid the understanding of the pathophysiology of Ménière's disease.(c) 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

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