A head-tilt caloric test for evaluating the vertical semicircular canal function

• Published in: Acta oto-laryngologica Vol. 129; no. 11; pp. 1226 - 1231
• Main Authors: Aoki, Sachiko, Arai, Yasuko, Yoda, Keiko, Nishida, Suguru
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Stockholm Informa UK Ltd 2009; Taylor & Francis; Informa
• Subjects: Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Caloric Tests - methods; Electronystagmography; Female; Head Movements - physiology; Hearing Loss, Sudden - diagnosis; Hearing Loss, Sudden - physiopathology; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Oculomotor disorders; office procedure; Ophthalmology; Orientation - physiology; Otitis Media - diagnosis; Otitis Media - physiopathology; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Posture - physiology; Reference Values; Semicircular Canals - physiopathology; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; vertical nystagmus; Vertical semicircular canal; Vertigo - diagnosis; Vertigo - physiopathology; Vertical nystagmus; Eye disease; Head; Vertical semicircular canal; office procedure; Semicircular canal; Tilt; ENT; Oculomotor syndrome
• ISSN: 0001-6489; 1651-2251
• DOI: 10.3109/00016480902721402

Conclusions: The caloric test with head-tilt can be used as a tool for assessing vertical canal function as an office procedure. Objective: Evaluation of vertical canal function. Patients and methods: We provoked caloric response by cold water in the vertiginous patients in supine position. During the culmination of the response we rotated the head 45° from the sagittal plane to place the posterior canal to earth-vertical. Thereafter we rotated the head 45° to the opposite direction to place the anterior canal to earth-vertical. The eye movements were recorded by two-dimensional electronystagmography. The data collected from the examination of 100 ears with normal caloric response in horizontal component were analyzed. Results: The down-beating vertical component intensified when the posterior canal was placed to earth-vertical. The up-beating vertical component intensified when the anterior canal was placed to earth-vertical. These findings suggested that the vertical canals were functioning.