[Rare differential diagnosis in "vertigo" symptoms].

The diagnosis of vestibulocochlear nerve and statoacoustic organ lesions is based on the symptoms vertigo, hearing loss and tinnitus. The most common diseases are vestibular neuronitis, Ménière's disease, benign positional vertigo and sudden hearing loss. 6 patients are presented, complaining of at least one of the symptoms vertigo, hearing loss or tinnitus. They were suspected of suffering from a peripheral audiovestibular disease when admitted to the clinic, but all of them revealed other pathologies. A careful history and step-wise otoneurologic diagnostics including clinical examination, otoneurologic testing, audiologic tests, electronystagmography, acoustic evoked potentials and imaging techniques finally resulted in the correct diagnosis.