Electrophysiologic Diagnosis of Meniere’s Disease

Abstract

Meniere’s disease was first described in 1861 by Prosper Meniere. The exact pathophysiology is still unclear. The history taken by the physician in combination with audiometric testing are still the most important diagnostic tools, however multiple electrophysiological tests have been described to aid in the diagnosis of Meniere’s disease. These tests are used because of their presumed sensitivity to structural and/or electrochemical changes brought about by endolymphatic hydrops, although the precise relationship between hydrops and the symptoms of Meniere’s disease is still uncertain. Here we discuss the electrophysiologic tests that are currently used clinically in Meniere’s disease, namely vestibular evoked myogenic potentials, electrocochleography, and the cochlear hydrops analysis masking procedure. At the current state-of-the-art, results of these tests must be considered corroborative rather than diagnostic.