Endolymphatic hydrops in patients with migraine: a correlative study

Endolymphatic hydrops (EH), Menière's disease (MD) pathological hallmark, is visualized via 3 T delayed phase MRI. This study examines MRI correlations between EH severity and migraine brain biomarkers.

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Audiologists and vestibular specialists should be aware that endolymphatic hydrops detected on MRI may be present in migraine patients without a Menière's disease diagnosis, potentially complicating differential diagnosis — but clinical protocols should not change until larger prospective studies confirm these findings.

Demonstrating a link between endolymphatic hydrops and migraine could reshape how audiologists and otologists distinguish vestibular migraine from Menière's disease, two conditions that are clinically difficult to separate.

1. 013T delayed-phase MRI used to visualize and grade endolymphatic hydrops severity in migraine patients.
2. 02Study investigates an overlap between migraine pathology and Menière's disease-like inner ear changes.
3. 03Endolymphatic hydrops (excess fluid in the inner ear) has traditionally been considered a hallmark of Menière's disease.
4. 04Findings could have significant implications for differential diagnosis of vestibular migraine vs. Menière's disease.
5. 05Correlative design limits causal inference; larger prospective studies are needed.

PMID

42434071

DOI

10.3389/fneur.2026.1882444.

Journal

Frontiers in Neurology

Publication type

research_article

Evidence level

3

Population

Patients with migraine, examined for endolymphatic hydrops; reference comparisons with Menière's disease patients

Intervention

3T delayed-phase MRI assessment of endolymphatic hydrops

Comparator

Menière's disease patients (reference group)