It consists of an excessive build-up of the endolymph fluid, which fills the hearing and balance structures of the inner ear.
If the inner ear is damaged by disease or injury, the volume and composition of the endolymph fluid can change, causing the symptoms of endolymphatic hydrops.
[1] Endolymphatic hydrops may occur as a result of trauma such as a blow to the head, infection, degeneration of the inner ear, allergies, dehydration and loss of electrolytes or in extremely rare circumstances a benign tumor such as an endolymphatic sac tumor.
The sudden change in the rate of the vestibular nerve firing results in a disturbance of signal processing in the corresponding brain regions, and thus to acute sensations of imbalance, otherwise known as vertigo.
In-vivo hydrops analysis can be performed using time delayed inner ear MRI with contrast agent.