Subjective visual vertical test in patients with chronic dizziness without abnormal findings in routine vestibular function tests.
CONCLUSIONS
The subjective visual vertical (SVV) test can detect abnormality of the otolithic organs and the graviceptive pathways present in a considerable number of patients having dizziness but presenting no abnormal findings in conventional vestibular function tests.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate whether the SVV test can detect dysfunction of the otolithic organs and perception of gravity in patients with dizziness having no abnormal finding on routine tests for the vestibular system.


METHODS
Forty-four patients who complained of chronic dizziness but had no abnormal finding on routine tests for vestibular system and on brain MRI studies were selected between 2004 and 2006. SVV tests were performed on these patients. Patients with chronic dizziness caused by apparent psychogenic disorders, such as depression, were excluded.


RESULTS
Among the 44 patients, 3 showed abnormal tilts of SVV. The latter three patients had deep white matter hyperintensities on their MRI, probably due to aging.
Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan. kumagami@nagasaki-u.ac.jp
Hidetaka
H
Kumagami
Yuzuru
Y
Saino
Akiko
A
Baba
Daisuke
D
Fujiyama
Kenji
K
Takasaki
Haruo
H
Takahashi
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004244:Dizziness / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009949:Orientation / Q000502:physiology*; D011434:Proprioception / Q000502:physiology*; D014724:Vestibular Function Tests