Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2010 Feb;53(2):71-76. 10.3342/kjorl-hns.2010.53.2.71.

Clinical Analysis of 42 Patients with Bilateral Vestibulopathy

• Chung SW
• Han GC

• KMID: 1455711
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3342/kjorl-hns.2010.53.2.71

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
To find out the causative factors and clinical features of bilateral vestibulopathy in the Korean population.
SUBJECTS AND METHOD
The data of 42 patients (mean age: 55.04+/-18.87 years) with bilateral vestibulopathy were reviewed retrospectively between 1997 and 2009. We carried out a full neurotological examination, electronystagmography, a bithermal caloric test, a rotatory chair test, cranial imaging and laboratory studies.
RESULTS
Nineteen patients (45.24%) were diagnosed as having secondary bilateral vestibulopathy with causative factors. The most common cause was ototoxic drug (14.29%). Other etiologic causes were labyrinthitis, temporal bone fracture, Meniere's disease, peripheral neuropathy and meningitis/encephalitis. Forty-five percent of all patients had symptoms that lasted less than 1 month, and about 43% of the patients presented with chronic progressive symptoms of over 1 year.
CONCLUSION
In about 54% of all patients, we couldn't find any causative factors leading to bilateral vestibulopathy. Because a large subgroup of patients had a history of dizziness over one year, an adequate number of studies on vestibular and cerebellar function are recommended for patients of chronic dizziness to exclude bilateral vestibulopathy.

Keyword

Vestibular neuropathy; Vestibular function test

MeSH Terms

Caloric Tests
Dizziness
Ear, Inner
Electronystagmography
Humans
Labyrinthitis
Meniere Disease
Peripheral Nervous System Diseases
Retrospective Studies
Temporal Bone
Vestibular Function Tests
Vestibular Neuronitis