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.

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)