Labyrinthitis ossificans

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Labyrinthitis ossificans, also known as labyrinthine ossification, represents pathological ossification of the membranous labyrinth as a response to an insult to the inner ear.

Clinical presentation

It is usually associated with profound sensorineural hearing loss, and may sometimes be associated with dizziness and/or vertigo.

Pathology

The disorder is most commonly the end result of prior suppurative labyrinthitis, either related to otomastoiditis (tympanogenic etiology) or meningitis (meningogenic etiology) ^1,^5,6,7. Other causes include temporal bone surgery or trauma ^1,5, autoimmune inner ear disease ^9,10, and sickle cell disease ⁵.

Radiographic features

CT

High-density bone deposition within the membranous labyrinth:

mild disease: hazy increase in density within fluid spaces of the membranous labyrinth
moderate disease: focal areas of bony encroachment on fluid spaces of the membranous labyrinth
severe disease: membranous labyrinth completely obliterated by bone replacing fluid spaces

MRI

T2: may show low-intensity foci within high signal fluid of inner ear

Treatment and prognosis

It may complicate or preclude cochlear implantation.

Differential diagnosis

Possible imaging differential considerations include:

labyrinthine aplasia or cochlear aplasia
retrofenestral/cochlear otosclerosis

-<p><strong>Labyrinthitis ossificans</strong>, also known as <strong>labyrinthine ossification</strong>, represents pathological ossification of the <a href="/articles/membranous-labyrinth">membranous labyrinth </a>as a response to an insult to the <a href="/articles/inner-ear">inner ear</a>.</p><h4>Clinical presentation</h4><p>It is usually associated with profound <a href="/articles/sensorineural-hearing-loss">sensorineural hearing loss</a>, and may sometimes be associated with dizziness and/or vertigo. </p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>The disorder is most commonly the end result of prior suppurative labyrinthitis, either related to <a href="/articles/chronic-otomastoiditis">otomastoiditis</a> (tympanogenic etiology) or <a href="/articles/leptomeningitis">meningitis</a> (meningogenic etiology) <sup>1,</sup><sup>5,6,7</sup>. Other causes include <a href="/articles/temporal-bone-1">temporal bone</a> surgery or <a href="/articles/temporal-bone-fracture-1">trauma</a> <sup>1,5</sup>, <a title="autoimmune inner ear disease" href="/articles/autoimmune-inner-ear-disease">autoimmune inner ear disease</a> <sup>9,10</sup>, and <a href="/articles/sickle-cell-disease">sickle cell disease</a> <sup>5</sup>.</p><h4>Radiographic features</h4><h5>CT</h5><p>High-density bone deposition within the membranous labyrinth:</p><ul>
+<p><strong>Labyrinthitis ossificans</strong>, also known as <strong>labyrinthine ossification</strong>, represents pathological ossification of the <a href="/articles/membranous-labyrinth">membranous labyrinth </a>as a response to an insult to the <a href="/articles/inner-ear">inner ear</a>.</p><h4>Clinical presentation</h4><p>It is usually associated with profound <a href="/articles/sensorineural-hearing-loss">sensorineural hearing loss</a>, and may sometimes be associated with dizziness and/or vertigo. </p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>The disorder is most commonly the end result of prior suppurative labyrinthitis, either related to <a href="/articles/chronic-otomastoiditis">otomastoiditis</a> (tympanogenic etiology) or <a href="/articles/leptomeningitis">meningitis</a> (meningogenic etiology) <sup>1,</sup><sup>5,6,7</sup>. Other causes include <a href="/articles/temporal-bone-1">temporal bone</a> surgery or <a href="/articles/temporal-bone-fracture-1">trauma</a> <sup>1,5</sup>, <a href="/articles/autoimmune-inner-ear-disease">autoimmune inner ear disease</a> <sup>9,10</sup>, and <a href="/articles/sickle-cell-disease">sickle cell disease</a> <sup>5</sup>.</p><h4>Radiographic features</h4><h5>CT</h5><p>High-density bone deposition within the membranous labyrinth:</p><ul>

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Image 6 CT (bone window) ( create )

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