Correlation between grading methods of the cochlear endolymphatic hydrops and hearing loss in meniere's disease using three-dimensional real inversion recovery sequences

BackgroundThe grading of intracochlear endolymphatic hydrops (EH) in Meniere's disease (MD) varies and lacks uniformity.AimsTo compare the grading consistency and correlation between different grade methods of intracochlear EH and hearing loss.Materials and methodsThirty-one patients diagnosed with MD underwent gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. Two radiologists graded the cochlea EH according to M1, M2, M3, or M4. We analysed the grading consistency and correlation between the EH degrees and hearing loss.ResultsThe weighted kappa coefficients for inter-observer and intra-observer agreements for grading using M1 were good, whereas those for M2, M3, and M4 are excellent (all p < 0.001). The cochlear EH degree based on M2 was correlated with the low-to-mid frequencies, high frequencies, full frequencies, and MD clinical stage (all p < 0.05). The degrees based on M1, M3, M4 were only relevant to some of the 4 items.ConclusionsThe grading consistency of M2, M3, M4 is relatively higher than that of M1, and M2 shows the strongest correlation with hearing loss.SignificanceOur results provide a more accurate method for assessing the clinical severity of MD.