[Diagnosis of delayed endolymphatic hydrops].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the diagnostic methods and significance of several tests for delayed endolymphatic hydrops (DEH).

METHOD

Fifteen patients with delayed endolymphatic hydrops were tested with pure tone threshold, ECochG, bithermal caloric test and vestibular evoked myogenic potentials test to detect the lesioned side and the extent of hydrops.

RESULT

All of the 15 patients had sensorineural hearing loss to the medium-severe extent at least. Ten were the ipsilateral type, four contralateral type and one bilateral type. Five cases had abnormal horizontal semicircular canal (HSCC) hydrops and saccular hydrops; six cases had abnormal HSCC function and normal saccular function; two cases had abnormal saccular function and normal HSCC function. The seven abnormal VEMP took the forms of loss of p13-n23, elongation of the latency of p13 or depressed amplitude cases with of p13-n23.

CONCLUSION

ECochG, bithermal caloric test and VEMP may play a major role in the diagnosis of delayed endolymphatic hydrops and they should be utilized as the routine tests.