Meniere's disease: terminology and data bank acquisition.

It is proposed that the term Meniere's disease be restricted to patients with the classic symptom and sign complex in whom the etiologic factor is unknown (idiopathic). The term Meniere's syndrome is restricted to patients whose etiologic factor is known, who have an incomplete form of the disease, or who are in the process of being evaluated. Vestibular neuronitis and cochlear hydrops are terms that should be retained until the concepts of vestibular and cochlear Meniere's disease are better understood and can be identified prospectively. The classic symptoms and signs, both positive and negative, are outlined and a standard evaluation format is suggested. This must submit to mathematical reduction for pre- and post-treatment comparisons. Until this basic problem has been solved to the satisfaction of the profession, the inferences that may be drawn from otherwise excellent studies will continue to be of very limited clinical value.