HISTOPATHOLOGY OF IDIOPATHIC CHRONIC RECURRENT VERTIGO

Vestibular neuritis is a degenerative neuropathy of the peripheral ves tibular system, The etiology of this condition is uncertain, although it is generally believed to be viral, A small percentage of patients w ith vestibular neuritis have chronic recurrent episodes of vertigo, De tailed cytologic descriptions of acute or chronic vestibular neuritis are lacking, and no previous studies have reported evidence of chronic inflammation in human temporal bone specimens. The authors of this st udy examined temporal bone specimens from three patients with a histor y of chronic recurrent vertigo of unknown cause. Varying degrees of in flammation and destruction were seen in the vestibular system, and mil d involvement of the cochlear system was noted, These findings are con sistent with postinfectious inflammatory changes of the cochlear-vesti bular system analogous to a postinfectious syndrome involving the cent ral nervous system.