Vestibular Aqueduct Morphology and Meniere's Disease—Development of the “Vestibular Aqueduct Score” by 3D Analysis

Frontiers in Surgery

article

Laurent Noyalet¹  Lukas Ilgen¹  Miriam Bürklein¹  Wafaa Shehata-Dieler¹  Johannes Taeger¹  Rudolf Hagen¹  Tilmann Neun²  Simon Zabler³  Daniel Althoff⁴  Kristen Rak¹ 

[1] Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Head and Neck Surgery and the Comprehensive Hearing Center, University of Würzburg;Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, University of Würzburg;Department of X-ray Microscopy, University of Würzburg;Fraunhofer Development Center for X-ray Technology

关键词: vestibular aqueduct (VA);    3D analysis;    temporal bone;    saccotomy;    computed tomography;    Meniere's disease;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fsurg.2022.747517

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

Improved radiological examinations with newly developed 3D models may increase understanding of Meniere's disease (MD). The morphology and course of the vestibular aqueduct (VA) in the temporal bone might be related to the severity of MD. The presented study explored, if the VA of MD and non-MD patients can be grouped relative to its angle to the semicircular canals (SCC) and length using a 3D model. Scans of temporal bone specimens (TBS) were performed using micro-CT and micro flat panel volume computed tomography (mfpVCT). Furthermore, scans were carried out in patients and TBS by computed tomography (CT). The angle between the VA and the three SCC, as well as the length of the VA were measured. From these data, a 3D model was constructed to develop the vestibular aqueduct score (VAS). Using different imaging modalities it was demonstrated that angle measurements of the VA are reliable and can be effectively used for detailed diagnostic investigation. To test the clinical relevance, the VAS was applied on MD and on non-MD patients. Length and angle values from MD patients differed from non-MD patients. In MD patients, significantly higher numbers of VAs could be assigned to a distinct group of the VAS. In addition, it was tested, whether the outcome of a treatment option for MD can be correlated to the VAS.

【 授权许可】

CC BY