J Korean Bal Soc.  2004 Jun;3(1):187-191.

Vestibuloneuritis Developed Concurrently in Ipsilateral Site with Herpes-Zoster Oticus Syndrome

• Han GC
• Lee JH
• Woo JH
• Yoo JK
• Lim SH

Abstract

BACKGROUND:Acute vestibular neuronitis is the disease of which the etiology and pathophysiology are largely unknown . But the viral infection and ischemia of the labyrinth and the vestibular nerve are considered as general etiology. This study was performed to support the viral infection rather than the ischemic theory. MATERIALS & METHODS:We studied seventy years old female patient who showed painful vesicles on left auricle and vertigo with spontaneous nystagmus to the right side. We performed physical examination, serologic test, ENG test, pure tone audiogram, brain magnetic resonance imaging and polymerase chain reaction.
RESULTS
We found small vesicles and vascular injection in left EAC, herpes zoster IgG positive, spontaneous right beating in electronystagmograpy, 54% left canal paresis in Caloric test , decreasing left side Tc in velocity step rotatory test, decresed gain, deviation to left in symmetry and phase lead in sinusoidal harmonic acceleration test, normal range hearing in pure tone audiogram, microangiopathy on cortex in brain MRI and negative PCR.
CONCLUSION
This case supports viral infection etiology rather than ischemia in vestibular neuritis. But more studies to find the etiology of vestibular neuronitis are required.

Keyword

Herpes zoster oticus; Vestibular neuronitis

MeSH Terms

Acceleration
Brain
Caloric Tests
Ear, Inner
Female
Hearing
Herpes Zoster
Herpes Zoster Oticus
Humans
Immunoglobulin G
Ischemia
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Paresis
Physical Examination
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Reference Values
Serologic Tests
Vertigo
Vestibular Nerve
Vestibular Neuronitis
Immunoglobulin G