Clinicians rely on eye movements to infer the pathophysiology of vestibular disorders and to diagnose vestibular disease. Eye movements are essential for localizing disease of the labyrinth or its central nervous system projections, but they cannot provide confirmation of a disease process. Technological improvements in imaging have allowed us to see some central causes of vestibular symptoms. However, until recently, medical imaging has been limited in its application for diagnosing disorders of the vestibular periphery. Temporal bone histopathology continues to provide insights about disorders of the inner ear, but is technically demanding and has inherent lag times from patient-reported symptoms to data acquisition. In vivo imaging is needed to improve both our understanding of vestibular disease and the abilities of clinicians to diagnose patients and to develop effective treatments.
The goal of this Research Topic is to synthesize the latest data on high resolution imaging of the inner ear and its central nervous system projections. To date, the dominant challenges encountered by those who image the inner ear have been image resolution and the inner ear’s secluded position deep within the temporal bone. The interfaces between bone, soft tissue, fluid, and air of the middle ear and mastoid generate artifacts in both magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT). New techniques in MRI and CT have allowed us to see these structures with ever-greater resolution and are beginning to reveal discoveries of inner ear pathophysiology. Flat panel CT scans have increased our ability to diagnose disorders of the bone of the middle and inner ear, such as superior semicircular canal dehiscence syndrome. Improved MRI hardware such as greater magnetic field strengths and stronger gradient coils have led to improved signal and spatial resolution, while new developments in the use of contrast and pulse sequences have shown us separate perilymph and endolymph spaces in patients with Meniere’s disease. This Topic is an opportunity to bring technological developments in imaging to an audience of clinicians and researchers who specialize in the disorders of the inner ear.
Therefore, we welcome submissions of manuscripts on the following subjects:
• Technological developments in MRI of the inner ear;
• The use of HYDROPs imaging to provide insights into clinical vestibular disorders;
• Using MRI to diagnose patients with central vestibular disorders;
• Using MRI to identify how the brain processes vestibular information;
• Technological developments in CT imaging of the inner ear;
• The use of CT imaging to diagnose middle and inner ear disorders;
• The use of CT imaging to assess the placement of inner ear devices such as cochlear and vestibular implants;
• Novel imaging techniques to study inner ear disease.
Topic Editor Arnaud Attye has received research grants from Guerbet and Bayer. All other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regards to the Research Topic subject.
Clinicians rely on eye movements to infer the pathophysiology of vestibular disorders and to diagnose vestibular disease. Eye movements are essential for localizing disease of the labyrinth or its central nervous system projections, but they cannot provide confirmation of a disease process. Technological improvements in imaging have allowed us to see some central causes of vestibular symptoms. However, until recently, medical imaging has been limited in its application for diagnosing disorders of the vestibular periphery. Temporal bone histopathology continues to provide insights about disorders of the inner ear, but is technically demanding and has inherent lag times from patient-reported symptoms to data acquisition. In vivo imaging is needed to improve both our understanding of vestibular disease and the abilities of clinicians to diagnose patients and to develop effective treatments.
The goal of this Research Topic is to synthesize the latest data on high resolution imaging of the inner ear and its central nervous system projections. To date, the dominant challenges encountered by those who image the inner ear have been image resolution and the inner ear’s secluded position deep within the temporal bone. The interfaces between bone, soft tissue, fluid, and air of the middle ear and mastoid generate artifacts in both magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT). New techniques in MRI and CT have allowed us to see these structures with ever-greater resolution and are beginning to reveal discoveries of inner ear pathophysiology. Flat panel CT scans have increased our ability to diagnose disorders of the bone of the middle and inner ear, such as superior semicircular canal dehiscence syndrome. Improved MRI hardware such as greater magnetic field strengths and stronger gradient coils have led to improved signal and spatial resolution, while new developments in the use of contrast and pulse sequences have shown us separate perilymph and endolymph spaces in patients with Meniere’s disease. This Topic is an opportunity to bring technological developments in imaging to an audience of clinicians and researchers who specialize in the disorders of the inner ear.
Therefore, we welcome submissions of manuscripts on the following subjects:
• Technological developments in MRI of the inner ear;
• The use of HYDROPs imaging to provide insights into clinical vestibular disorders;
• Using MRI to diagnose patients with central vestibular disorders;
• Using MRI to identify how the brain processes vestibular information;
• Technological developments in CT imaging of the inner ear;
• The use of CT imaging to diagnose middle and inner ear disorders;
• The use of CT imaging to assess the placement of inner ear devices such as cochlear and vestibular implants;
• Novel imaging techniques to study inner ear disease.
Topic Editor Arnaud Attye has received research grants from Guerbet and Bayer. All other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regards to the Research Topic subject.
