We microscopically examined the temporal bones of 12 ears with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (iSSNHL), 10 ears with presbycusis, 11 ears with normal hearing, and 8 unaffected contralateral ears of patients with iSSNHL. The degeneration of the spiral ligament, vascular stria, hair cells, dendrites, and apical spiral ganglion cells was greater in ears with iSSNHL than in the other groups. The apical ganglion cells were significantly more affected than the basal ganglion cells, and the spiral ganglion cell loss increased as a function of duration of iSSNHL. Cochlear ossification was found in 1 ear with iSSNHL, and hydrops in 2. These findings suggest a viral rather than a vascular or ruptured inner ear membrane origin for iSSNHL.
SchuknechtHF. Pathology of the ear. Philadelphia, Pa: Lea & Febiger Press, 1993.
2.
SchuknechtHFDonovanED. The pathology of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Arch Otorhinolaryngol1986; 243: 1–15.
3.
SandoIHaradaTLoehrASobelJH. Sudden deafness: Histopathologic correlation in temporal bone. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol1977; 86: 269–79.
4.
BordleyJEKapurYP. Histopathologic changes in the temporal bone resulting from measles infection. Arch Otolaryngol1977; 103: 162–8.
5.
ZajtchukJTMatzGJLindsayJR. Temporal bone pathology in herpes oticus. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol1972; 81: 331–8.
6.
LindsayJRDaveyPRWardPH. Inner ear pathology in deafness due to mumps. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol1960; 69: 918–35.
7.
GussenR. Sudden deafness of vascular origin: A human temporal bone study. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol1976; 85: 94–100.
8.
BelalAJr. Pathology of vascular sensorineural hearing impairment. Laryngoscope1980; 90: 1831–9.
9.
HoistadDLSchachernPAPaparellaMM. Autoimmune sensorineural hearing loss: A human temporal bone study. Am J Otolaryngol1998; 19: 33–9.
10.
GussenR. Sudden hearing loss associated with cochlear membrane rupture: Two human temporal bone reports. Arch Otolaryngol1981; 107: 598–600.
11.
GussenR. Sudden deafness associated with bilateral Reissner's membrane ruptures. Am J Otolaryngol1983; 4: 27–32.
12.
IgarashiMAlfordBR. Functional and histopathological correlations after microembolism of the peripheral labyrinthine artery in the dog. Laryngoscope1969; 79: 603–23.
13.
SugaFPrestonJSnowJB. Experimental microembolism of cochlear vessels. Arch Otolaryngol1970; 92: 213–20.
14.
AlbersFWDemuynckKMCasselmanJW. Three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging of the inner ear in idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss. J Otorhinolaryngol Relat Spec1994; 56: 1–4.
15.
WoolfNKHarrisJPRyanAFButlerDMRichmanDD. Hearing loss in experimental cytomegalovirus infection of the guinea pig inner ear: Prevention by systemic immunity. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol1985; 94: 350–6.
16.
StokroosJSAlbersFWJSchirmJ. The etiology of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss: Experimental herpes simplex virus infection of the inner ear. Am J Otol1998; 19: 447–52.
17.
WilsonWR. The relationship of the herpesvirus family to sudden hearing loss: A prospective clinical study and literature review. Laryngoscope1986; 96: 870–7.
18.
KhetarpalUNadolJBGlynnRJ. Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss and postnatal viral labyrinthitis: A statistical comparison of temporal bone findings. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol1990; 99: 969–76.
19.
YoonTHPaparellaMMSchachernPAAllevaM. Histopathology of sudden hearing loss. Laryngoscope1990; 100: 707–15.
20.
SchuknechtHFKimuraRSNaufalPM. The pathology of sudden deafness. Acta Otolaryngol (Stockh)1973; 76: 76–97.
21.
GuildSR. A graphic reconstruction method for the study of the organ of Corti. Anat Rec1921; 22: 141–57.
22.
OtteJSchuknechtHFKerrAG. Ganglion cell populations in normal and pathological human cochlea: Implications for cochlear implantation. Laryngoscope1978; 88: 1231–46.
23.
KonigsmarkBW. Methods for the counting of neurons. In: NautaWJHEbbesonSOE, eds. Contemporary research methods in neuroanatomy. Berlin, Germany: Springer-Verlag, 1970: 315–40.
24.
IshiiTToriyamaM. Sudden deafness with severe loss of cochlear neurons. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol1977; 86: 541–7.
25.
BelalAJr. The effects of vascular occlusion on the inner ear. J Laryngol Otol1979; 93: 955–68.
26.
SimmonsFB. The double membrane break syndrome in sudden hearing loss. Laryngoscope1979; 89: 59–66.
