title: A study into the phenomenon of head-shaking nystagmus: its presence in a dizzy population.
abstract: In this paper we have prospectively analyzed results from approximately 1,500 patients who underwent a head-shaking test during routine electronystagmography (ENG). The incidence of head-shaking nystagmus (HSN) in a dizzy population was relatively high (31.7%) when compared to other so-called abnormalities in the routine ENG test battery. Its presence was also similar in both active vs. passive head-shake tests. When present, different types of HSN were identified (monophasic (76.8%), biphasic (22.7%) and triphasic (0.5%)). In some cases, reversals of the expected "normal" pattern occurred. A high correlation was found to exist between a positive head-shake test and the presence of spontaneous nystagmus, positional nystagmus and caloric test abnormalities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Okayama University Medical School.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujimoto
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rutka
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mai
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D004244:Dizziness / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004584:Electronystagmography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement; D009759:Nystagmus, Pathologic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009760:Nystagmus, Physiologic