Tumors of the Cerebellopontine Angle in Relation to Vertigo

Abstract

THE OBJECTIVE of this discussion will be to assess vertigo as a symptom in patients harboring cerebellopontine angle tumors. Is vertigo seen in patients with these tumors? Does it differ from the vertigo associated with Ménière's disease? What is the significance of nystagmus? Is there any relationship to cerebellar involvement? Our material is taken from the case histories of 136 consecutive patients who were seen at the Otologic Medical Group in Los Angeles from Feb 15, 1961 to May 11, 1966. All of these patients were shown to have surgically verified acoustic neuromas. <h3>Vertigo and Unsteadiness</h3> True vertigo (Table), manifested by a sensation of objects in the environment spinning, or a rotatory motion of the subject, sometimes accompanied by nausea or vomiting, was present in 34 patients in this group (25%). This vertigo may be very difficult to distinguish from the vertigo seen in a typical attack of Ménière's disease,