Vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) in patients with acoustic neuromas.

OBJECTIVE

To study the utility of VEMP (vestibular-evoked myogenic potential) in the diagnosis of acoustic neuromas.

METHODS

Eighteen patients with unilateral acoustic neuromas were subjected to this study. Myogenic potential responding to loud click stimuli was recorded at ipsilateral sternocleidomastoid muscle. A normal range of VEMP was obtained from 20 controls. VEMP responses were compared with both, clinical symptoms and results of caloric tests.

RESULT: Thirteen out of 18 patients showed decreased responses of VEMP at the affected side. VEMP responses seemed to have little relation with dysequilibrium, spontaneous nystagmus, canal paresis and pure-tone hearing.

CONCLUSION

VEMP is useful for detecting dysfunction of inferior vestibular nerve in patients with acoustic neuromas.