TY - JOUR T1 - Electrocochleography for Ménière's disease: is it reliable? JO - Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology (English Edition) T2 - AU - Lamounier,Pauliana AU - Gobbo,Débora Aparecida AU - de Souza,Thiago Silva Almeida AU - de Oliveira,Carlos Augusto Costa Pires AU - Bahmad,Fayez SN - 18088694 M3 - 10.1016/j.bjorl.2014.08.010 DO - 10.1016/j.bjorl.2014.08.010 UR - http://www.bjorl.org/en-electrocochleography-for-meniere39s-disease-is-articulo-S1808869414001104 AB - IntroductionEndolymphatic hydrops, the histopathological substrate of Ménière's disease, is an almost universal finding in postmortem studies of patients with this disease. The cause of hydrops is still unknown, as is the mechanism by which it causes progressive dysfunction of the sensory organs of inner ear. The fluctuating course of the disease complicates the interpretation of certain tests, such as electrocochleography; thus, for some authors its diagnostic value is questionable. ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to analyze the clinical applicability of electrocochleography in the diagnosis of hydrops. It is a valuable tool, but still generates conflicting opinions among otolaryngologists. MethodsSystematic review of the literature on electrocochleography in patients diagnosed with endolymphatic hydrops. ResultsA total of 34 articles regarding the use of electrocochleography in patients with hydrops, from the year 2000 onwards, were selected. Of these, 15 were excluded from the review as they were not observational studies. Only one cross-sectional study addressing the clinical use of electrocochleography by otolaryngologists was included. ConclusionElectrocochleography is a valuable tool in the diagnosis of hydrops, as it is a non-invasive, easy to handle procedure, which offers new techniques to increase the sensitivity of the test, and thereby assists otolaryngologists in the management of Ménière's disease. ER -