Objective: The characteristics of 3D-FLAIR MRI images of the inner ear of patients with vestibular neuritis were preliminarily studied to explore the possible pathogenesis of vestibular neuritis, and the correlation analysis was conducted in combination with vestibular function to provide a basis for accurate diagnosis of vestibular neuritis. Methods: A total of 36 patients with vestibular neuritis (VN) from December 2019 to October 2020 were collected from the Vertigo Department of Shandong Provincial ENT Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University. There were 36 cases (18 females, 18 males) with unilateral acute vestibular neuritis, 17 cases of left ear and 19 cases of right ear. According to the results of 3D-FLAIR MRI in the inner ears, the patients were divided into the enhanced group and the non-enhanced group (the health side served as the normal control group). The results of vestibular function examination in the two groups were compared. SPSS19.0 software was used for statistical processing to analyze the relationship between the vestibular function and the characteristics of 3D-FLAIR imaging in the inner ears. Results: Abnormal enhancement of 3D-FLAIR was found in 31 cases (86.1%) of the 36 cases, including 14 cases of both vestibular nerve and vestibular terminal organ enhancement, eight cases of superior vestibular nerve enhancement alone, seven cases of vestibular terminal organ enhancement alone, and two cases of cochlear enhancement alone. Observation of abnormal reinforcement of vestibular nerve showed: twenty-one cases of superior vestibular nerve reinforcement, one case of superior and inferior vestibular nerve reinforcement. No abnormalities were found in 3D-FLAIR of inner ear in 5 cases. According to the analysis of vestibular function results, there were 19 cases (52.8%) with total vestibular involvement, sixteen cases (44.4%) with superior vestibular involvement alone, and one case (2.8%) with inferior vestibular involvement alone. Comparison of vestibular function between the five cases (non-enhancement group) and the 31 cases (enhanced group) in the 3D-FLAIR group of the inner ears showed that the CP values of caloric tests in the enhanced group were higher (60.81±3.49 vs 34.12±7.37), with statistically significant difference (t=-2.898, P<0.01). Conclusion: In patients with vestibular neuritis, 3D-FLAIR MRI scan of the inner ear provides visual imaging evidence for clinical practice, considering that the lesion site of vestibular neuritis is not only in the vestibular nerve, but also in the vestibular end organ. Patients with 3D-FLAIR enhanced in the inner ear may have more significant vestibular function damage.
Caloric Tests ; Female ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional/methods* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods* ; Male ; Vestibular Neuronitis/diagnosis* ; Vestibule, Labyrinth

Objective: To investigate the frequency characteristics and the pathological characteristics of the horizontal crista ampullaris in patients with Meniere's disease,and to analyse its structural basis. Methods: Between March, 2019 and November, 2019, seventy-two patients diagnosed as Meniere's disease (27 males and 45 females, aged from 13 to 74 years, with a course of disease ranging from 4 months to 32 years)in Shandong Provincial ENT Hospital were included.Caloric test, sinusoidal harmonic acceleration test (SHA), video-head impulse test (v-HIT), Gadolinium-enhanced inner-ear 3D-FLAIR MRI and pure tone audiometry were conducted in the patients. The function of the horizontal semicircular canal in these patients were analysed as well as its relationship with the degree of endolymphatic hydrops,clinical stage and duration. Light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy were used to observe the ultrastructure of horizontal semicircular canal crista ampullaris from six patients with refractory Meniere's disease who underwent labyrinthectomy. The number of type Ⅰ and type Ⅱ vestibular hair cells, the common pathophysiological changes of horizontal semicircular canal crista ampullaris were investigated in these patients. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 19.0. Results: With the increase of detection frequency, the abnormal rate decreased gradually. The abnormal rate of caloric test was 69.4% (50/72), SHA 51.4% (37/72), V-HIT 36.1% (26/72), comparation of the positive rate among the three tests showed statistically significant differences(P<0.05).Neither caloric test nor SHA had correlation with the degree of hydrops(P>0.05), but v-HIT(r=0.434,P<0.01).There was correlation with clinical stage to SHA and v-HIT(r=0.338,0.462,P<0.01), except caloric test(P>0.05).No significant relation was found with caloric test, SHA, v-HIT and course of disease(P>0.05).Morphological observation found abnormal monolayer epithelialization of the horizontal semicircular canal crista ampullaris significantly decreased number of type Ⅱ hair cells compared with type Ⅰhair cells. Hair cells showed perinuclear vacuolization, cytoplasmic vacuoles, mitochondrial electron density increasement and loss of stereocilia. Conclusions: The horizontal semicircular canal damage in the patients with Meniere's disease has a frequency-dependent characteristic, mainly occurres in low frequency area. With progress of the disease, the high frequency area of ampulla will be impaired gradually, and it is related to the degree of endolymphatic hydrops and hearing level. Hair cell injury would be observed,the frequency characteristics may be more associated with the disorder of type Ⅱ hair cells.
Caloric Tests ; Endolymphatic Hydrops ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Meniere Disease ; Semicircular Canals ; Semicircular Ducts

Acute vestibular neuritis (VN) is characterized by acute/subacute vertigo with spontaneous nystagmus and unilateral loss of semicircular canal function. Vestibular system in human is represented in the brain bilaterally with functional asymmetries of the right hemispheric dominance in the right handers. Spatial working memory entails the ability to keep spatial information active in working memory over a short period of time which is also known as the right hemispheric dominance. Three patients (patient 1, 32-year-old female; patient 2, 18-year-old male; patient 3, 63-year-old male) suffered from acute onset of severe vertigo, nausea and vomiting. Patients 1 and 2's examination revealed VN on the right side showing spontaneous left beating nystagmus and impaired vestibular ocular reflex on the right side in video head-impulse and caloric tests. Patient 3's finding was fit for VN on the left side. We also evaluated visuospatial memory function with the block design test in these 3 VN patients which discovered lower scores in patients 1 and 2 and the average level in patient 3 compare to those of healthy controls. Follow-up block design test after resolved symptoms showed within normal range in both patients. Our cases suggest that the patients with unilateral peripheral vestibulopathy may have an asymmetrical effect on the higher vestibular cognitive function. The right VN can be associated with transient visuospatial memory dysfunction. These findings add the evidence of significant right hemispheric dominance for vestibular and visuospatial structures in the right-handed subjects, and of predominant dysfunction in the hemisphere ipsilateral to the peripheral lesion side.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Brain ; Caloric Tests ; Cognition ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Memory ; Memory, Short-Term ; Middle Aged ; Nausea ; Reference Values ; Reflex ; Semicircular Canals ; Vertigo ; Vestibular Neuronitis ; Vomiting

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to investigate characteristics of nystagmus during attacks of vestibular migraine (VM), and to find a distinct clinical feature compared to other migraine and peripheral vestibular disorders. METHODS: This study is a retrospective chart review of 82 patients satisfied with VM criteria, which is formulated by the new Bárány Society. Spontaneous and positional nystagmus provoked by various head positions were examined with video-nystagmography in all patients. Bithermal caloric test and cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential test (cVEMP) were also performed. The direction and peak slow-phase velocity (SPV) of nystagmus, unilateral caloric weakness and interaural difference of cVEMP were analyzed. Control groups were lesion side in acute VN for nystagmus results and healthy side in the patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo of posterior semicircular canal for caloric and cVEMP results. Chi-square test and Mann-Whitney U-test were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: During the acute attack, nystagmus was seen in 71.9% (59 of 82) of patients. Horizontal nystagmus was the predominant type. Peak SPV in VM patients was much slower than in the control group (2.37±1.73 °/sec vs. 17.05±12.69 °/sec, p<0.0001). There was no significant difference on the result of both caloric and cVEMP test, compared to those of control groups. CONCLUSION: Nystagmus with horizontal directions and low SPV was dominant form in the attack of VM. Close observation of nystagmus can be helpful to make a correct diagnosis and to understand the pathomechanism of vertigo in VM.
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo ; Caloric Tests ; Diagnosis ; Head ; Humans ; Migraine Disorders ; Nystagmus, Pathologic ; Nystagmus, Physiologic ; Retrospective Studies ; Semicircular Canals ; Vertigo

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Conflicting results about vestibular function in progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) prompted a systematic examination of the semicircular canal function, otolith function, and postural stability. METHODS: Sixteen patients with probable PSP [9 females, age=72±6 years (mean±SD), mean disease duration=3.6 years, and mean PSP Rating Scale score=31] and 17 age-matched controls were examined using the video head impulse test, caloric testing, ocular and cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (o- and cVEMPs), video-oculography, and posturography. RESULTS: There was no evidence of impaired function of the angular vestibulo-ocular reflex (gain=1.0±0.1), and caloric testing also produced normal findings. In terms of otolith function, there was no significant difference between PSP patients and controls in the absolute peakto-peak amplitude of the oVEMP (13.5±7.2 µV and 12.5±5.6 µV, respectively; p=0.8) or the corrected peak-to-peak amplitude of the cVEMP (0.6±0.3 µV and 0.5±0.2 µV, p=0.3). The total root-mean-square body sway was significantly increased in patients with PSP compared to controls (eyes open/head straight/hard platform: 9.3±3.7 m/min and 6.9±2.1 m/min, respectively; p=0.032). As expected, the saccade velocities were significantly lower in PSP patients than in controls: horizontal, 234±92°/sec and 442±66°/sec, respectively; downward, 109±105°/sec and 344±72°/sec; and upward, 121±110°/sec and 348±78°/sec (all p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: We found no evidence of impairment of either high- or low-frequency semicircular function or otolith organ function in the examined PSP patients. It therefore appears that other causes such as degeneration of supratentorial pathways lead to postural imbalance and falls in patients with PSP.
Accidental Falls ; Caloric Tests ; Female ; Head Impulse Test ; Humans ; Movement Disorders ; Otolithic Membrane ; Reflex, Vestibulo-Ocular ; Saccades ; Semicircular Canals ; Supranuclear Palsy, Progressive ; Tauopathies ; Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Video head impulse tests (vHITs) and caloric tests are widely used to assess the loss of vestibular function in acute vestibular neuritis. Although previous studies have reported on the results of each test, longitudinal comparison of these tests is rare. In the present study, vHITs and caloric tests were performed in patients with unilateral vestibular neuritis during the acute phase and after a long follow-up period (>6 months). The goal of this study was to evaluate the changes in vHIT and caloric test results and to analyze the relationships between them. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Between September 2013 and December 2015, charts from 13 patients with unilateral vestibular neuritis were retrospectively reviewed. Among the 13 patients, caloric tests and vHITs were performed in 9 and 10 patients, respectively. Results of the vHITs and caloric tests were analyzed and the changes were compared. RESULTS: During the acute phase of vestibular neuritis, the results of the caloric test showed an increase in canal paresis (CP), and the results of the vHIT showed a decrease in horizontal gain. Although subjective symptoms improved in all patients after a long follow-up period (mean: 13.9 months), the occurrence of CP determined from the caloric test was not significantly changed (p=0.889). On the other hand, the mean horizontal gain of the vHIT had improved significantly (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: While CP determined from the caloric test did not change after a long follow-up period, the decreased horizontal gain in the vHIT was significantly recovered in patients with unilateral vestibular neuritis.
Caloric Tests* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hand ; Head Impulse Test ; Head* ; Humans ; Methods ; Paresis ; Retrospective Studies ; Vestibular Neuronitis*

To analyze the functional change of horizontal semicircular canals after cochlear implantation.Eighteen patients were enrolled in this study.Their vestibular function was evaluated by using the caloric test and video head impulse test before and one week,one month after CI surgery,respectively.The unilateral weakness(UW),slow phase velocity(SPV)in caloric test and gain in video head impulse test(vHIT-G)were observed.Caloric test was abnormal when UW>25% or SPV mean<6°/s,while vHIT was abnormal when vHIT-G<0.8.The SPV of the implanted ear were[(10.36±8.01)°/s;(14.77±14.24)°/s]pre-operatively,[(6.45±7.52)°/s;(5.14±4.67)°/s]1 week post-operatively and[(6.05±3.86)°/s;(6.27±4.17)°/s]1 month post-operatively.Statistically significant difference(<0.05)was found between pre-and post-operative period.The vHIT-G of the implanted ear were(0.73±0.33)pre-operatively,(0.65±0.32)1 week post-operatively and(0.71±0.36)1 month post-operatively.There was no statistically significant difference of vHIT-G between preand post-operative period((pre-operative/1 week post-operative)=0.084,(pre-operative/1 month post-operative)=0.679).Four patients presented with vertigo and one of them manifested slight unsteadiness post-operatively.All symptoms resolved within 7 days.These symptoms had no correlate with age,gender,implantedear and results of vestibular test.Cochlear implantation can affect the horizontal semicircular canal function,and the video head impulse test and caloric test should be used in a complementary fashion.
Caloric Tests ; Cochlear Implantation ; adverse effects ; methods ; Head Impulse Test ; Humans ; Semicircular Canals ; physiopathology ; Vertigo

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to assess the clinical significance of spontaneous nystagmus (SN) in horizontal semicircular canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (HC-BPPV). METHODS: Twenty-four patients who were diagnosed with HC-BPPV in Eulji University Hospital from January 2015 to December 2016 were recruited. Various bed-side examinations including SN in both sitting and supine position, head roll test, and bithermal caloric test were evaluated. The number of canalith repositioning maneuvers were counted in all patients. RESULTS: SN was observed in 18.2% of geotropic HC-BPPV and 38.5% of apogeotropic HC-BPPV, respectively. There was no significant difference between presence of SN and the direction of initial nystagmus (p=0.386, 2-tailed Fisher exact test). The mean number of otolith repositioning maneuvers in patients with SN was 3.29±1.799 and this was significantly higher than in patients without SN (1.76±0.831) (p=0.009). Although the mean number of repositioning maneuver in patients in apogeotropic HC-BPPV and SN (3.80±1.924) tended to be higher than those who were diagnosed with apogeotropic HC-BPPV without SN (1.88±1.991) (p=0.035), the post hoc analysis with Bonferroni correction revealed that it was not significant because it was higher than the adjusted p-value (p=0.017). The initial direction of nystagmus was changed into the opposite direction in 29.17% of patient. However, this change was not different according to presence of SN (p=0.374, 2-tailed Fisher exact test). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of SN in HC-BPPV may be associated with lower treatment response. In particular, cautions are needed in patients with apogeotropic HC-BPPV.
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo ; Caloric Tests ; Head ; Humans ; Otolithic Membrane ; Semicircular Canals ; Supine Position

OBJECTIVES: Vestibular paroxysmia (VP) of the eighth cranial nerve is characterized by recurrent auditory and vestibular disturbances when a proximal part of the eighth cranial nerve is continuously pressed by a vessel. A detailed history and several ancillary diagnostic tools, such as tinnitogram, caloric test, auditory brainstem response (ABR) and magnetic resonance imaging, are used for diagnosis of VP. Among them, although Møller criteria using ABR is a simple method, the previous study is insufficient. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate ABR's diagnostic value of VP. METHODS: ABR records of the 14 patients (patient group) who were diagnosed with VP and 45 patients (as control) who were diagnosed with only tinnitus were reviewed retrospectively. We analyzed the differences in Møller criteria between 2 groups. RESULTS: Mean age of the patient group was 52.9 years old and the control group was 55.4 years old. As compared with the control group, there were no significant differences of Møller 3 criteria contents (peak II wave amplitude < 33% [35.7% vs. 15.5%, p=0.133], interpeak latency I–III ≥2.3 msec [42.8% vs. 35.5%, p=0.622]), Contralateral interpeak latency III–V ≥2.2 msec (0% vs. 4.4%, p=1.000) in patient group. CONCLUSION: There was no significant difference of ABR parameters according to the Møller criteria between patient and control groups.
Caloric Tests ; Diagnosis ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Tinnitus ; Vestibulocochlear Nerve

OBJECTIVES: Aim of this study is to investigate the clinical efficacy of the vestibular function tests (VFTs) and the predictability of lesion side of vestibular asymmetry parameters in acute unilateral peripheral vestibulopathy. METHODS: Medical records and results of VFTs (caloric, rotatory chair, and head impulse tests) of 57 patients with acute unilateral vestibulopathy were reviewed retrospectively. The VFTs were examined within 7 days after the clinical onset. RESULTS: For the caloric test, 74% showed significant canal paresis and the predictability of lesion side was 88%. For the sinusoidal harmonic acceleration test, 91% had low gain in at least 1 Hz, phase lead showed 70%, 89% showed phase asymmetry and the predictability of lesion side was 90%. For velocity step test, 67% had abnormal Tc asymmetry and the predictability of lesion side was 95%. In bedside head impulse test (HIT), abnormal catch up saccades were observed in 89% and the predictability of lesion side was 100%. For the video HIT, cover or overt catch-up saccades were observed in 95% and the predictability of lesion side was 100%. One hundred percent (100%) had low gain on the video HIT, but the lesion sides were uncertain because of bilateral involvements or artifacts. CONCLUSIONS: The most important things in the diagnosis of acute unilateral vestibulopathy are typical clinical symptoms and spontaneous nystagmus. A combination of rotatory, caloric, and HITs will result in a more complete examination of the vestibular system. Among them, HIT is recommended as the best tool in acute unilateral vestibulopathy.
Acceleration ; Artifacts ; Caloric Tests ; Diagnosis ; Exercise Test ; Head ; Head Impulse Test ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Paresis ; Retrospective Studies ; Saccades ; Treatment Outcome ; Vestibular Function Tests