ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the diagnostic value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) and to analyze the various clinical aspects and treatments of the patients with abnormal MRI findings. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: We retrospectively reviewed medical and radiological records of patients with SSNHL over 5-year period. All consecutive patients took gadolinium-enhanced MRI including whole brain and all MRIs were evaluated by experienced independent investigators. RESULTS: Twelve patients (8.0%) had obvious etiologies of SSNHL, which consisted of 5 cases of vestibular schwannoma, 3 cases of tumors of cerebellopontine angle, 3 cases of pontine infarction, and 1 case of inflammatory granuloma of internal auditory canal. One patient (0.7%) had possible etiologies of SSNHL, which was labyrinthitis ossificans. CONCLUSION: Gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) including whole brain seems to be an essential examination in patients with SSNHL and we recommend its application.