S. Asawavichianginda et al., PREVALENCE OF HEAD-SHAKING NYSTAGMUS IN PATIENTS ACCORDING TO THEIR DIAGNOSTIC CLASSIFICATION IN A DIZZINESS UNIT, Journal of otolaryngology, 26(1), 1997, pp. 20-25
Objective: In a previous publication, the authors documented the preva
lence and characteristics of head-shaking nystagmus (HSN) in over 1300
consecutive dizzy patients during formal electronystagmography (ENG)
at the combined Otologic Function Unit (OFU) of the Toronto and Mount
Sinai Hospitals. This companion study was done to prospectively analyz
e a subgroup of 300 patients with known clinical diagnoses belonging t
o the senior author (J.R.). Methods: The prevalence of HSN in this ser
ies of patients with a known diagnosis is prospectively compared to th
e presence of HSN in a series of normal controls. Results: Results ind
icate that HSN is seen significantly (p < .05) in those patients with
peripheral vestibular dysfunction and that the more globally the perip
heral vestibular disorder involves end-organ (i.e., Meniere's) or prim
ary afferent-neuron function (i.e., vestibular neuronitis), the more l
ikely HSN will be present. Conclusion: We further comment on the usefu
lness of the head-shake test and its clinical relevance in the bedside
examination of the dizzy patient.