Neurotologic Evidence of Central and Peripheral Involvement in Patients with Vestibular Neuronitis

Abstract

Quantitative vestibulo-oculomotor tests and auditory brain stem responses were studied in 22 patients with vestibular neuronitis in a search for evidence of CNS affection. Such evidence was found in 16 of the 22; only in the other six could the examination findings be regarded as the result of damage limited to vestibular neuroepithelium or nerve. It is concluded that vestibular neuronitis can cause CNS signs by itself, probably because of inflammation in the vicinity of the vestibular nerve.