Thesis title: Human Inner Ear: anatomical and immunological aspects of deafness
The human inner ear is characterized by a high variability for both anatomy and pathophysiology.
The thesis work is based on two chapters: in the first chapter (basic research), studies on the anatomy of the inner ear are reported, focusing on the anatomical variations that can influence surgery and outocomes of cochlear implant. In particular, the cochlear aqueduct, the vascular supply, and the vestibular organs were analyzed.
In the second (clinical) chapter, the immunological aspect of the inner ear is treated. For this purpose, a review on immune-mediated inner ear diseases (IMIED) was conducted. An evaluation of the cochlear implant outcomes in IMIED patients was then performed, focusing on the audiological and electrophysiological peculiarities. Finally, a prospective study on the involvement of the inner ear in Sjogren's syndrome was reported.