抄録
A number of syndromes have been described which are similar to vestibular neuronitis, all with vertigo as their chief symptom. A review of 16 consultation patients, seen at the Otolaryngological Clinic of the Tottori University Hospital for single episode of vertigo without significant cochlear involvement, was presented. The mean age of the 9 women and 7 men were 41 years. A special study was made of the occurrence of infection and vestibular function. Vestibular function was recorded by electronystagmography. All patients had characteristic caloric changes, canal paresis and directional preponderance. None of the patients had noted a change in hearing during vertigo. Seven of the patients had a history of infection, preceding vertigo that was localized in the upper respiratory tract. In the of the etiology syndrome, there were many factors of inflammatory, infectious, degenerative-toxic, or vascular character. The present study was undertaken in an attempt of clarify the confusion surrounding the definition of vestibular neuronitis by establishing precise and limiting diagnostic criteria for the entity. Personal observations have permitted the following conclusions to be drawn. We reserved the term “sudden vestibular paralysis”, for all case of vestibular derangment without associated auditory deficit. We characterized “vestibular neuronitis” as “probable viral etiology” in vestibular paralysis of sudden onset.
