Ziane Selmani

Cochlear Blood Flow Measurement in Patients with Me´nie`re's Disease and Other Inner Ear Disorders

To identify an eventual vascular aetiology in different diseases with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), the cochlear blood flow (CoBF) was measured using laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) in 69 patients with Ménières disease (MD), 38 patients with progressive SNHL and 8 patients with sudden deafness. The mean CoBF amplitude at rest was 0.70 mV (SD 0.25) for patients with MD, 0.66 mV (SD 0.21) for patients with SNHL and 0.69 mV (SD 0.23) for those with sudden deafness. No statistically significant difference was observed between the groups with respect to the CoBF amplitudes at rest or during the Valsalva manoeuvre. There was a statistically significant correlation (r = -0.4, p < 0.05) between the hearing level and CoBF amplitude in the SNHL group only. It is concluded that the reduction in vascular flow may not be the main aetiological factor in Ménières disease or sudden deafness. In SNHL the correlation of hearing level with the level of the LDF amplitude can be secondary to the progression of hearing loss.To identify an eventual vascular aetiology in different diseases with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), the cochlear blood flow (CoBF) was measured using laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) in 69 patients with Ménières disease (MD), 38 patients with progressive SNHL and 8 patients with sudden deafness. The mean CoBF amplitude at rest was 0.70 mV (SD 0.25) for patients with MD, 0.66 mV (SD 0.21) for patients with SNHL and 0.69 mV (SD 0.23) for those with sudden deafness. No statistically significant difference was observed between the groups with respect to the CoBF amplitudes at rest or during the Valsalva manoeuvre. There was a statistically significant correlation ( r = -0.4, p < 0.05) between the hearing level and CoBF amplitude in the SNHL group only. It is concluded that the reduction in vascular flow may not be the main aetiological factor in Ménières disease or sudden deafness. In SNHL the correlation of hearing level with the level of the LDF amplitude can be secondary to the progression of hearing loss.

Incidence of virus infection as a cause of Meniere's disease or endolymphatic hydrops assessed by electrocochleography

Meniere’s disease (MD) may follow viral infection such as by neurotropic viruses known to invade the endolymphatic sac (ES) and provoke endolymphatic hydrops (EH). The objective of this study was to investigate whether neurotropic viruses may cause infection of the inner ear and provoke EH. Antiviral immunoglobulin (IgG) assay against herpes simplex 1 (HSV1), herpes simplex 2 (HSV2), adenovirus (ADV), varicella zoster virus (VZV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) were performed in 109 patients with an advanced stage of MD and compared with those obtained from 26 patients operated on because of vestibular schwannoma (VS), who served as a control group, to evaluate whether there is an association between the IgG levels and the ECoGs summating potential/action potential ratio (SP/AP ratio) in the MD group. In MD patients, the IgG titre against VZV and ADV were significantly higher than in the control (schwannoma) group. However, no correlation was found between the IgG levels against ADV and VZV with the SP/AP ratio. Neurotropic viruses such VZV and ADV may play a role in the pathogenesis of MD, despite the absence of association between the levels of IgG titres and the SP/AP ratio

Role of Transtympanic Endoscopy of the Middle Ear in the Diagnosis of Perilymphatic Fistula in Patients with Sensorineural Hearing Loss or Vertigo

Background: The diagnosis of perilymphatic fistula (PLF) is often difficult, and therefore the condition can be overlooked. Tympanoscopy presents an alternative procedure for visualising the middle ear anatomy, and it may help to diagnose PLF. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of middle ear endoscopy in establishing the diagnosis of PLF and in defining its incidence in patients with sensorineural hearing loss and/or vertigo and tinnitus. Subjects and Methods: Two hundred and sixty-five patients (22–80 years of age, mean 48 years) were prospectively and consecutively referred for middle ear examination with tympanoscopy. Tympanoscopy was performed using endoscopes with visual angles of 5 and 25° and an outer diameter of 1.7 mm. The round window niche (with its secondary membrane), the oval window with a stapes superstructure, a part of the facial recess and the area in the fissula ante fenestram were examined and video-recorded. Results: For 1 patient, tympanoscopy revealed fistula in the round window membrane that was covered with a fibrinous layer. In 4 cases abnormal mucosal shining appeared in the round window, but no PLF was present. In 7 cases the tympanic cavity could not be visualised because of the adhesive tympanic membrane, abnormal anatomy or the prominent exostoses of the external ear canal. In 6 cases a postendoscopic middle ear infection was found. No permanent tympanic membrane perforation occurred in any of the patients in this study. Conclusions: Tympanoscopy is a rapid examination tool with which to verify certain areas of the middle ear anatomy, but it is of limited value for ruling out the presence of PLF.

Surgical treatment of amalgam fillings causing iatrogenic sinusitis.

Iatrogenic maxillary sinusitis is a rare disease entity that can be fatal if not managed. Thirteen patients (five men and eight women) were referred to our clinic because of chronic iatrogenic maxillary sinusitis. Eight patients presented with a left-side maxillary sinusitis, four patients presented with right-side maxillary sinusitis, and one patient presented with right-side pan sinusitis. The sinusitis was caused by the intrusion of amalgam filling during root treatment of teeth. All of the patients were treated surgically with a Caldwell-Luc approach. In 12 patients, the amalgam was removed with the infected and inflamed maxillary mucosa. In one patient, the amalgam could not be removed with the Caldwell-Luc technique because it was in the deeper part of the root of the molar tooth. Histologic examination revealed four cases of aspergillosis; three cases of papillary and polypoid sinusitis; three cases of nonspecific pseudo-polypoid sinusitis; two cases of hyperplasic polypoid sinusitis; and one case of catarrhal sinusitis. All patients were relieved of their complaints that were related to sinusitis. Radiologically, the maxillary sinuses were clean 1 month after Caldwell-Luc intervention. Iatrogenic maxillary sinusitis should be considered a serious infection. A smear should be taken whenever a foreign body is intruded into the sinus. Foreign bodies can get jammed in the posterior wall of the sinus and can provoke chronic sinusitis with a risk intracranial extension. Hence, the disease should be managed surgically without delay. Furthermore, dentists should be cautious with dental amalgam filling.

Cemento-ossifying fibroma of the ethmoidal sinus in a child presenting with isolated pain in the nasal region.

The authors present a case of a previously healthy 8-year-old girl who presented with pain on the right side of the nose (bony part) radiating to the frontal and temporal regions. Physical examination was normal, whereas magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the facial region revealed a tumor limited to the right ethmoidal sinus with a small extension to the medial wall and the upper part of the nasal septum. The tumor was removed by using a 5-degree nasoscope and sent for pathologic examination, which revealed a cemento-ossifying fibroma of the ethmoidal sinus. This is a rare condition, and MRI is a valuable tool in its detection because results of physical examination may be normal in patients reporting nasal pain. According to the World Health Organization classification, this tumor is a variant of cementifying fibromas, which represent a subgroup of cementomas, fibro-osseous lesions containing cementum. Cementifying fibromas are rare tumors. They are usually small, asymptomatic lesions, but although benign, they can develop into aggressive, expansible masses.

Use of electrocochleography for assessing endolymphatic hydrops in patients with Lyme disease and Ménière's disease.

From an otological standpoint, Lyme disease can manifest itself as Ménières disease both clinically and electrophysiologically. The aim of this study was to describe the findings of routine clinical, auditory and vestibular tests in patients with Ménières and Lyme disease and to use electrocochleography (ECoG) to assess the presence of endolymphatic hydrops (EH) in both diseases. Transtympanic ECoG was performed in 91 patients with Ménières disease and in 11 patients with confirmed Lyme disease. In both diseases the majority of patients had more than one complaint. There was one case with isolated hearing loss in the Lyme disease group. Typical clinical manifestations of Ménières disease (vertigo, sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus) were found in 6 11 patients (54.5%) in the Lyme disease group. The ECoG results indicated that there were 65 91 patients (71.4%) with Ménières disease and 5 patients (45.5%) with Lyme disease who presented with EH. No statistically significant difference was found between the incidence of different symptoms of Ménières and Lyme disease. On the basis of these results, patients with Lyme disease should undergo careful examination and investigation, especially in endemic regions. The presence of EH does not exclude the presence of infection with borreliosis as a cause of Ménières disease-like symptoms.

Fibrous dysplasia of the sphenoid sinus and skull base presents in an adult with localized temporal headache.

Fibrous dysplasia (FD) of the sphenoidal sinus is a rare disease, especially during adulthood. We report a case of FD of the right sphenoidal sinus in an adult male patient who presented with nonspecific symptoms limited to headache localized to the right temporal area and to the inferior orbital rim of both sides. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a dense mass that occupied the entire right sphenoidal sinus and skull base with typical ground-glass opacification and bony sclerosis of the whole sphenoidal wall. The diagnosis of FD was confirmed on pathological examination of a biopsy taken through sphenotomy. The patient underwent a subcranial craniotomy for tumor resection. After more than 4 years of follow-up, the patient was disease-free. On the basis of these clinical features, it is important to consider sphenoidal FD in both young and adult patients complaining of an unexplained headache, because it may present unusually with headache localized to the temporal region or the inferior orbital rim.

Middle Ear Imaging in Neurotological Work-up

Middle ear imaging constitutes a homogeneous test battery for evaluation of neurotological disease. The imaging comprises infra-sound fistula test, ABR, tympanoscopy, ECoG, and trans-promontiorial cochlear blood flow measurement. We used a fistula test with infra-sound loading on posturography. In tympanoscopy we used 5 degrees and 25 degrees endoscopes with a diameter of 1.9 mm and length of 125 mm. In blood flow measurement we used laser-Doppler system with a stainless steel tip placed on the basal turn against stira vascularis. The flux was analyzed with a computer with custom-made software. In ECoG, a silver ball electrode was placed on the round window. In 64 cases evaluated we were not able to verify a spontaneous PLF by tympanoscopy. Symptoms typical for spontaneous PLF with positive fistula test turned out to be caused by endolymphatic hydrops. Sudden deafness usually did not show reduced cochlear blood flow, but often an endolymphatic hydrops. Fistula test was positive in about 25% of cases with endolymphatic hydrops. Tympanoscopy caused very few complication. The procedure takes about one hour and is done ambulatorily.

Can low frequency sound stimulation during posturography help diagnosing possible perilymphatic fistula in patients with sensorineural hearing loss and/or vertigo?

Perilymphatic fistula (PLF) is often difficult to diagnose because of the similar symptomatology, such as vertigo, tinnitus and hearing loss, which is found in several inner ear diseases. We attempted to correlate a positive result of low frequency sound (LFS) stimulation tests in posturography with the presence or absence of a PLF confirmed by transtympanic endoscopy in 209 patients with various inner ear diseases (Menieres disease ( n =128), vestibulopathy ( n =41), cochleopathy ( n =28) and sudden deafness ( n =12). LFS provoked unsteadiness in posturography without PLF in 24 patients with Menieres disease, in 5 patients with vestibulopathy, in 3 patients with cochleopathy and in 2 patients with sudden deafness. In one patient, tympanoscopy revealed fistula in the round window membrane that was covered with a fibrinous layer. In four cases there was abnormal light reflex in the round window but without PLF. In eight cases, Henneberts sign was present with nystagmus, without PLF. We conclude that pathological responses to the LFS test in posturography can also be encountered in other inner ear diseases without PLF.

Is Meniere Disease Caused by a Pathological Immune Response

The etiology of Meniere disease (MD) is unknown. Among the several factors which can provoke the disease is a pathological immune response. Objective: To investigate whether MD is due to a pathological immune reaction. Materials and methods: Immunological assay (IA) was evaluated in a consecutive study on 159 patients with MD (mean age 47.8. years) and the results compared with those from 26 patients operated on because of vestibular schwannoma (VS, mean age 54.1 years), who served as a control group. In cases of MD, transtympanic electrocochleography (ECoG) and hearing threshold were measured. Results: The average hearing level (HL) in the affected ears of patients with MD was 30 dB. Evidence of abnormal plasma protein pattern was found in 127 MD patients (80%). Elevations were found in β1-globulin (54.5%), β2-globulin (26.5%), a2-globulin (34.3%), g-globulin (17.3%), complement (CH100, 36.4%) and antinuclear antibodies (ANA, 43.4%). The onset of the disease did not correlate with the level of the plasma protein neither with the level of IgG titers. Conclusion: Elevated certain plasma proteins in patients with Meniere’s disease could be a sign that Meniere’s disease is a consequence of pathological immune reaction.