Vibration-induced nystagmus as an office procedure for the diagnosis of superior semicircular canal dehiscence.
OBJECTIVE
To describe nystagmus induced by cranial vibration in a case series of 8 patients with superior semicircular canal dehiscence.


METHODS
Consecutive case series review.


METHODS
Tertiary vestibular center.


METHODS
Eight consecutive patients with computed tomographic confirmed superior semicircular canal dehiscence syndrome observed in the last 24 months.


METHODS
Vertex, bilateral mastoid, and bilateral suboccipital cranial vibration were performed using 100 Hz. Vibration for 10 to 15 seconds on patients in the seated position during office evaluation for vestibular complaints. Nystagmus was monitored by infrared video oculography with digital recording.


RESULTS
All patients demonstrated distinct torsional/vertical vibration-induced nystagmus. Maximal recorded slow-phase velocity was 20 degrees/s. This was observed best with suboccipital vibration on the side of the dehiscence.


CONCLUSIONS
Vibration-induced torsional/vertical nystagmus, observed best with ipsilateral suboccipital cranial vibration in the seated position, seems to be a sensitive screening test in the office setting for the presence of superior semicircular canal dehiscence.
White
Judith A
JA
Head and Neck Institute, The Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA. whitej3@ccf.org
Hughes
Gordon B
GB
Ruggieri
Paul N
PN
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004576:Electromyography; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006320:Hearing Tests; D006801:Humans; D007759:Labyrinth Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009760:Nystagmus, Physiologic / Q000502:physiology*; D012665:Semicircular Canals; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014724:Vestibular Function Tests / Q000379:methods*; D014732:Vibration