Feasibility of three-dimensional fluid-attenuated inversion recovery magnetic resonance imaging as a prognostic factor in patients with sudden hearing loss

The aim of this study was to confirm the feasibility of high signal on three-dimensional fluid-attenuated inversion recovery magnetic resonance imaging (3D FLAIR MRI) as one of the prognostic factors in recovery of sudden idiopathic hearing loss. A retrospective study was conducted using patients who were diagnosed with unilateral sudden idiopathic hearing loss from January 2008 to December 2010. A total of 120 patients were enrolled in for this study. High-intensity signal in the inner ear on precontrast 3D FLAIR MRI was observed in 31 patients (25.8%; FHS) and labyrinthine enhancement was not observed in another 89 patients (FNS; 74.2%). There was no significant difference in patients’ characteristics between two groups except final hearing. Final puretone average of the FHS group was 49.4 dB, significantly worse than FNS group’s 36.7 dB (p = 0.037 < 0.05). Final hearing was related to initial hearing, accompanying dizziness, and abnormal auditory brainstem response result by multiple regression analysis. However, presence of high-intensity signal on precontrast 3D FLAIR MRI did not affect final hearing significantly. Significant difference due to the presence of dizziness in final hearing was observed in whole patients and in the FHS group, whereas no significant difference in final hearing was observed in FNS group. (p = 0.063 > 0.05). From these findings, the presence of high-intensity signal on 3D FLAIR MRI is a subfactor related to dizziness rather than a single poor prognostic factor and the absence of high-intensity signal on 3D FLAIR MRI can possibly imply relative good prognosis.