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Inferior vestibular neuritis: a novel subtype of vestibular neuritis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 December 2009

D Zhang
Affiliation:
Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Provincial Hospital, affiliated to Shandong University, People's Republic of China
Z Fan
Affiliation:
Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Provincial Hospital, affiliated to Shandong University, People's Republic of China
Y Han
Affiliation:
Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Provincial Hospital, affiliated to Shandong University, People's Republic of China
G Yu
Affiliation:
Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Provincial Hospital, affiliated to Shandong University, People's Republic of China
H Wang*
Affiliation:
Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Provincial Hospital, affiliated to Shandong University, People's Republic of China Institute of Eye and ENT, Shandong Clinic Research Institute, Jinan, People's Republic of China
*
Address for correspondence: Dr Haibo Wang, Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Provincial Hospital, affiliated to Shandong University, 324 Jingwu Street, Jinan, 250021P.R. China. Fax: 86 531 85187584 E-mail: wanghb7585@hotmail.com

Abstract

Objective:

To report eight cases of inferior vestibular neuritis, in order to raise awareness of this new subtype of vestibular neuritis.

Materials and methods:

We retrospectively analysed 216 patients (104 males and 112 females; age range 10–64 years; mean age 38.4 years) with full clinical documentation who had attended our hospital's vertigo clinic between May 2007 and December 2008. All patients underwent systematic investigation, including hearing tests, radiology, caloric testing and vestibular evoked myogenic potential testing.

Results:

Of 216 patients with vestibular neuritis, eight cases were diagnosed as inferior vestibular neuritis, based on comprehensive analysis of test data. The clinical features of these eight patients were consistent with the characteristics of vestibular neuritis. The results of pure tone audiometry and caloric testing were normal, and the possibility of central lesions was excluded by cerebral computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging on admission. Six cases had unilateral loss of vestibular evoked myogenic potentials, whereas two had a unilateral lower amplitude of vestibular evoked myogenic potentials.

Conclusions:

Inferior vestibular neuritis is a novel subtype of vestibular neuritis, which involves the inferior vestibular nerve alone. Vestibular evoked myogenic potential testing is a useful aid to the diagnosis of inferior vestibular neuritis.

Type
Main Articles
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2009

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