DOPPLER SONOGRAPHIC EVALUATION OF FUNCTIO NAL-DISORDERS OF THE CERVICAL ARTERIES IN PATIENTS WITH COCHLEAR AND VESTIBULAR PROBLEMS

Doppler ultrasound examination is an easy and non-invasive examination technique to image the anatomical and functional situation of cervica l vessels. An increasing number of ENT-specialists has been using Dopp ler sonography in the diagnosis of cochlear and vestibular disorders. We analysed the frequency of pathological Doppler examination results of 150 patients with vertigo, hearing loss and tinnitus. Especially pa tients with vertigo bear a greater risk for stenosis of the extracrani al arteries (28%) compared to an asymptomatical population (1%). Patie nts with hearing loss and tinnitus showed a different degree of artery disorders (23% of the patients with hearing loss; 18% of the patients with tinnitus). Patients bearing no risk for atherosclerosis showed i n 13% (vertigo) and 8% (hearing loss and tinnitus) stenosis of the cer vical arteries. Thus we found by Doppler ultrasound examination more s tenoses in patients with cochlear or vestibular symptoms than in an as ymptomatical population. The early attribution of stenosis to a malfun ction of the inner ear helps to avoid invasive examinations of cervica l vessels. In addition to this, imminent cerebral ischaemia can be rev ealed at an early stage.