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Intensely enhanced Fallopian canal as a surrogate marker for vasculitis in the ear: Our experience in four patients
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  • Taro FUJIKAWA,
  • Keiji Honda,
  • Taku Ito,
  • Mitsuhiro Kishino,
  • Naoki Kimura,
  • Natsuka Umezawa,
  • Mana Hirano,
  • Natsuki Aoki,
  • Yoshiyuki Kawashima,
  • Takeshi Tsutsumi
Taro FUJIKAWA
Tokyo Medical and Dental University

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Keiji Honda
Tokyo Medical and Dental University
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Taku Ito
Tokyo Medical and Dental University
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Mitsuhiro Kishino
Tokyo Medical and Dental University
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Naoki Kimura
Tokyo Medical and Dental University
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Natsuka Umezawa
Tokyo Medical and Dental University
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Mana Hirano
National Defense Medical College
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Natsuki Aoki
Tokyo Medical and Dental University
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Yoshiyuki Kawashima
Tokyo Medical and Dental University
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Takeshi Tsutsumi
Tokyo Medical and Dental University
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Abstract

1. Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) frequently affect the ear, resulting in the development of external otitis, otitis media, sensorineural hearing loss, and facial paresis. 2. The lack of specific methods for detecting vasculitis of the ear occasionally hinders the early diagnosis of otologic involvement of GPA and EGPA. 3. Contrast-enhanced, 3D T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging with gradient-echo sequences (CE-3D-GRE) demonstrate intense enhancement in the tympanic and mastoid segments of the Fallopian canal in spite of the absence of facial paresis. 4. Maximum intensity projection images clearly display an enhanced Fallopian canal, which was associated with adjacent inflammatory lesions. 5. Intense enhancement of the Fallopian canal on CE-3D-GRE can be used as a surrogate marker of otologic involvement of GPA and EGPA, which may enable early diagnosis, monitoring, and therapy optimisation in a less invasive manner.