J Korean Geriatr Soc.  2001 Dec;5(4):341-347.

Vestibular Function Test in Old Age Patients with Vertebrobasilar Dolichoectasia

• Lee GH

Abstract

BACKGROUNDS: Most of vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia(VBD) patients are in old age. Cranial nerve dysfunction including vestibular dysfunction such as vertigo is frequent complications of VBD. But little is known about the vestibular function test(VFT) profile of the disease.
METHODS
Auditory testing and VFT(electronysta-gmography with caloric test, rotaional test and computerized dynamic posturography) were performed in 25 elderly patients with auditory-vestibular symptoms or cranial nerve impairment associated with VBD.
RESULTS
postive test results were observed in 22 cases(88%). 11 cases had evidence of peripheral involvement, 4 cases evidence of central impairment, and 7 cases had evidence of both peripheral and central dysfunction.
CONCLUSION
Relatively high prevalence of central dysfunction means that mechanism such as ischemia or impaired blood supply to the vestibular system is as important as compression of the cranial nerves to generate vestibular dysfunction in elderly patients with VBD.

Keyword

Vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia; vertigo; vestibular function test; Electrpmustagmography; Posturography

MeSH Terms

Aged
Caloric Tests
Cranial Nerves
Humans
Ischemia
Prevalence
Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency*
Vertigo
Vestibular Function Tests*