Can We Predict the Outcome of Treatment with Infrared Thermography in the Patients with Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss?

Kim, Yong Ik; Lee, Young Hun

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) has been used as a treatment for sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), as circulatory disturbances to the inner ear are one of the primary causes of SNHL. The superficial temperature, as an indicator of cutaneous blood circulation, can be visualized easily by thermography. The symptoms of smaller temperature differences between the affected and normal sides were thought could be easily improved compared to those of larger temperature differences. METHODS: Twelve patients were examined by thermography, before and after treatments, including SGB, using the IRIS 2000 digital infrared imaging system (Medicore, Korea). Two superficial temperature spots, around the ear, between the normal and the affected sides, were compared. RESULTS: In our patients, significant alterations in the temperature were found in the skin around the ear. The temperature differences between the affected and normal sides were 0.35 +/- 0.19 and 0.24+/- 0.19 degrees C, at spots 1 and 2, respectively. The temperature differences after improvement of the symptoms were 0.14 +/- 0.12 and 0.17+/- 0.15 degrees C, at spots 1 and 2 (P < 0.01), respectively. There was no relation between the difference in the temperature and the duration of recovery. CONCLUSIONS: Thermography of the skin is an easy method for estimating the blood circulation of the skin above the inner ear. It is suggested that changes in the temperature are not a factor in predicting the treatment of SNHL patients.