Abstract:
The inflammation of inner ear tissues is thought to be a major contributor to the development of hearing loss and balance disorders [1]. However, because of the inner ear location deep within the temporal bone it is difficult to determine the occurrence and pathological influence of dynamic inflammatory disease, without invasive techniques. Recent advances in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offer innovative opportunities for studying function and metabolism of the intact and damaged cochlea [2]. Here, we report the detection of cochlear inflammation in vivo on MR images using dynamic contrast enhanced technique and the distribution of inflammatory cells in the cochlea. ....
