Trapezoid Rotation Test Useful in the Diagnosis of Delayed Endolymphatic Hydrops

Abstract

Delayed endolymphatic hydrops (DEH) was proposed by Nadol (1975) and Schuknecht (1976) as a pathological diagnosis. Because of severe hearing loss, the presence of endolymphatic hydrops (EH) cannot be demonstrated by the glycerol test or electro-cochleography. This paper discusses a clinical method of examining EH in this disease. The authors' earlier study, reported in Acta Otolaryngol (Stockh) suppl. 435 (1987), showed that EH in Meniere's disease could be detected not only by audiometry but also by the trapezoid rotation test. The demonstration of ipsilateral labyrinthine preponderance (LPi) by this rotation test is a useful indicator of the development of EH. The authors performed this rotation test in seven patients who satisfied Schuknecht's criteria of DEH by careful history taking and audiometry, and LPi was detected in five of them, especially before the onset of vertigo. It was concluded that the detection of LPi by the trapezoid rotation test should be added to the tests used for the exact diagnosis of DEH. © 1990, Japan Society for Equilibrium Research. All rights reserved.