2018 Volume 77 Issue 6 Pages 532-540
Objectives: In 1975, Sakata et al., introduced the Caloric Eye Tracking Pattern Test (CETP), combining the caloric test with the eye-tracking test. They reported that CETP is useful for identifying the clinical features of central vestibular vertigo. We examined the significance of CETP for differentiating between peripheral and central vestibular vertigo.
Methods: The subjects consisted of 5 healthy subjects, 5 patients with peripheral vestibular disorder, and 29 patients with central vestibular disorder. We performed CETP, with the eye tracking test (ETT) during caloric nystagmus. The ear was irrigated for 20 seconds with 20 mL of water (20°C) with the patient in a supine position and the head anteflexed at 30 degrees. After 70 seconds, when the caloric responses were active, CETP was initiated using a target oscillating at an amplitude of 30 degrees and frequency of 0.3 Hz.
Results: In patients with central vestibular disorder, even though the conventional ETT pattern was smooth, the CETP pattern showed superimposed caloric nystagmus, resulting in a loss of smoothness. On the other hand, in healthy subjects and patients with peripheral vestibular disorder, both conventional ETT and CETP showed smooth movements.
Conclusion: CETP may be a useful diagnostic method to differentiate peripheral from central vestibular vertigo.
