The value of vestibular evoked myogenic potential and electrocochleography in unexplained aural fullness.

BACKGROUND

Unexplained aural fullness, after excluding external or middle ear diseases and vertigo, is not easily diagnosed.

AIM: The aim of this study is to determine the vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) and electrocochleography (ECochG) abnormal rates in patients with unexplained aural fullness, and analyzed the relationship between unexplained aural fullness and endolymphatic hydrops (EH).

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

The VEMP and EcochG abnormal rates in 54 patients with unexplained aural fullness and 21 healthy volunteers, and the VEMP and EcochG abnormal rates in the four hearing loss groups were compared. The distribution of abnormal of VEMP and EcochG in age, sex or hearing loss groups were investigated.

RESULTS

The VEMP abnormal rate in patients was greater than that in healthy volunteers (p = .000). The abnormal rate of VEMP was greater than the EcochG in patients (p = .003). The VEMP abnormal rate was greater than the EcochG in patient with low-tone or high-tone hearing loss (p = .008).

CONCLUSION AND SIGNIFICANCE: Abnormal of VEMP in a significant proportion of patients with unexplained aural fullness maybe indicative of EH, and EH was more likely to involve the utricle or saccule in patients with low- or high-tone hearing loss.