title: A superior semicircular canal dehiscence syndrome multicenter study: is there an association between size and symptoms?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this investigation was to determine if there is any association between the size of the canal dehiscences and the symptoms and signs of patients presenting with the superior semicircular canal dehiscence syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective multicenter study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary referral center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-seven patients, 14 females and 13 males, aged 25 to 83 years, coming from Switzerland, France, Belgium, or Italy, with dehiscence of the superior semicircular canal diagnosed by high-resolution computed tomographic scans of the temporal bone.
  
  
  METHODS
  Audiologic tests, a battery of vestibular tests (Tullio phenomenon, Hennebert sign, Valsalva maneuver), vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs), and high-resolution computed tomographic scans of the temporal bone.
  
  
  METHODS
  Association between the symptoms/signs and the size of the superior canal dehiscence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Clinically patients could be divided into three different groups: Superior canal dehiscences (> or =2.5 mm) presented predominantly with cochleovestibular symptoms and/or signs (sensitivity, 91.7%; specificity, 70%), whereas smaller one's showed either cochlear or vestibular dysfunction. Patients with larger dehiscences were significantly more associated with vestibulocochlear symptoms/signs, lower VEMP thresholds, and objective vestibular findings (e.g., Tullio phenomenon) than subjects with smaller bony defects. No significant association between the size of the dehiscence and the audiogram pattern or individual findings could be found. The location of the dehiscence seemed to have no influence on the clinical manifestation and findings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with larger superior canal dehiscences show significantly more vestibulocochlear symptoms/signs, lower VEMP thresholds, and objective vestibular findings compared with smaller ones. Smaller dehiscences mainly present with either cochlear or vestibular dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Kantonsspital Luzern, Spitalstrasse, Luzern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pfammatter
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Darrouzet
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gärtner
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Somers
authors.forename: Joost
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Van Dinther
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Trabalzini
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ayache
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Linder
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001844:Bone Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006314:Hearing Loss, Conductive / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009759:Nystagmus, Pathologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D012665:Semicircular Canals / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013577:Syndrome; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014636:Valsalva Maneuver; D015837:Vestibular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014724:Vestibular Function Tests