Clinical predictors of abnormal magnetic resonance imaging findings in patients with asymmetric sensorineural hearing loss

IMPORTANCE: Asymmetric sensorineural hearing loss (ASNHL) is commonly encountered in an otolaryngologic clinical practice. Determining what factors are associated with abnormal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings will help with diagnostic workup. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between clinical and audiometric factors and abnormal MRI findings in patients with ASNHL. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Retrospective medical record review from an urban, tertiary referral center of 451 patients with ASNHL who underwent MRI testing between January 2005 and December 2011. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Medical records were reviewed for audiometric parameters as well as clinical presentation and compared with MRI results, which were categorized as abnormal, normal, or incidental. Data analysis included χ2 tests, logistic regression analysis, and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: A total of 48 patients (10.6%) had abnormal MRI findings. Only 21 patients (4.7%) had a mass of the cerebellopontine angle/internal auditory canal on MRI, making up 40% of all abnormal MRI findings. The next most common MRI finding was labyrinthitis (n = 13; 25%). Vertigo/dizziness (n = 20; P = .01), tinnitus (n = 18; P = .02), sudden hearing loss (n = 15; P = .054), and 15-dB asymmetry at 3 kHz (n = 39; P = .01) were associated with abnormal MRI findings. Loud noise exposure was associated with normal MRI findings. Logistic regression analysis showed that vertigo/dizziness (odds ratio [OR], 2.14; 95% CI, 1.15-3.96; P = .02), unilateral tinnitus (OR, 2.15; 95% CI, 1.14-4.03; P = .02), and 15-dB asymmetry at 3 kHz (OR, 2.62; 95% CI, 1.24-5.57; P = .01) were significantly associated with abnormal MRI findings. Multivariate analysis showed that only 15-dB asymmetry at 3 kHz (OR, 2.42; 95% CI, 1.07-5.50; P = .03) was significantly associated with an abnormal MRI finding. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: This study found that asymmetry of 15 dB at 3 kHz on audiometry was associated with higher positive yield on use of MRI in evaluating patients with ASNHL. We recommend that patients who present with ASNHL with this audiometric characteristic undergo MRI as part of their diagnostic workup