Comparing the sensitivity and specificity of cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials and electrocochleography in the diagnosis of Ménière's disease.

Objective

To compare the sensitivity and specificity of objective cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP) tuning curves and electrocochleography (ECochG) for the diagnosis of Ménière's disease (MD).

Design

Sensitivity and specificity were calculated from 95% normative ranges of 500 Hz cVEMP threshold and ECochG SP/AP amplitude ratios. Measures: Extra-tympanic ECochG testing to 90 dB nHL clicks and cVEMP threshold tuning curves (250-1000 Hz). Study sample: We tested 15 patients (30 ears) diagnosed with definite bilateral MD based on the clinical criteria proposed by the American Academy of Otolaryngology Head and Neck surgery, 1995 (assumed gold standard) and 20 controls.

Results

500 Hz cVEMP threshold was the most promising parameter to differentiate MD ears from controls. cVEMP and ECochG showed high specificity (83.3 and 100%, respectively) and low to moderate sensitivity (22.2 and 71.4%) for long term MD. ECochG sensitivity increased to 89% during a symptomatic period, compared to 33% for cVEMP. However, ECochG can be difficult to schedule during symptomatic periods. Sensitivity of cVEMP for the diagnosis of MD appears limited.

Conclusions

ECochG has higher sensitivity than cVEMP in the diagnosis of Ménière's patients, but the ECochG SP/AP amplitude ratio measure is not perfect for the diagnosis of MD.