Retrospective Study of Magnetic Resonance Imaging & Vestibular Function Testing in Patients Suggestive of Central Vestibular Disorders

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:There were many tools to evaluate dizzy patients with various causes. Our aim was to find the relationship between the magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) and vestibular function testing(VFT) in patients who are supposed of central vestibular disorders and to evaluate their effects. MATERIALS AND METHODS:We selected 183 patients retrospectively by standardized questionnaires, physical examinations, chart reviews from 3,825 patients who visited otorhinolaryngology via department of emergency and out patient clinic with chief complaints of dizziness. Among them, 13 patients were supposed to have MRI in relation to dizziness. We analyzed the result of VFT, MRI findings and then classified them in according to lesion locations, pathologic findings in MRI & optokinetic tests, caloric tests, step velocity tests, vestibulo-ocular tests, visual fixation tests in VFT. RESULTS:There were 9 ischemic findings, 1 hemorrhagic finding, 3 neoplasms in pathologic findings. There were 5 pons lesions, 4 cerebellum lesions, 3 thalamus lesions, 2 medulla lesions, 2 pituitary lesions and 1 caudate nucleus lesions in locations. CONCLUSIONS:Dizzy patients visiting otorhinolaryngology OPD had 0.34%(13/3825) central origin vertigo, and vascular disease is most common. Therefore we supported that careful readings of VFT findings in identifying central vestibular disorders were valuable and might well represent the gold standard. MRI was an important tool for evaluating the central nervous system, and we should use MRI to assess central vestibular dysfunction. We concluded MRI correlated well with VFT findings of central vestibular dysfunction.