Res Vestib Sci.  2012 Jun;11(2):69-72.

Two Cases of Vestibular Pseudoneuritis Presenting Positive Sign on Head Impulse Test

• Hur DG
• Lee EJ
• Kang HS
• Ahn SK

Abstract

At emergency room, most patients who presented with abrupt isolated vertigo without neurologic deficits were diagnosed as common vestibular disorder including vestibular neuritis. However posterior circulation stroke also can be a cause of the isolated vestibular vertigo. This condition is called vestibular pseudoneuritis. It is very important to differentiate vestibular pseudoneuritis from common vestibular disorder because of requiring different management and avoiding severe complication. Previous studies reported that head impulse test is one of bedside tests which represents unilateral vestibular hypofunction. Most patients of the vestibular neuritis shows positive head impulse test. However the head impulse test can be positive in central origin vertigo. So it is necessary to interpret the results of the test with caution. We report 2 cases of vestibular pseudoneuritis which showed positive head impulse test with a review of the related literatures.

Keyword

Vestibular neuritis; Stroke; Head impulse test

MeSH Terms

Emergencies
Head
Humans
Neurologic Manifestations
Stroke
Vertigo
Vestibular Neuronitis