Open AccessPulsatile nystagmus secondary to semicircular canal dehiscence
Author(s) -
Mohamed Hawwas,
Emily Young,
Virangna Taneja,
Darius Rejali
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
bmj case reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.231
H-Index - 26
ISSN - 1757-790X
DOI - 10.1136/bcr-2018-225963
Subject(s) - medicine , semicircular canal , nystagmus , dehiscence , surgery , fistula , pulsatile flow , cholesteatoma , facial canal , mastoidectomy , vertigo , middle ear , vestibular system , radiology , cardiology
We report the case of a 69-year-old man with a history of mastoidectomy for cholesteatoma, who developed spontaneous spinning vertigo on debridement of his cavity. Subsequent CT confirmed a lateral semicircular canal fistula, which was surgically closed with mastoid cavity obliteration. Following surgery, he developed a spontaneous, pulse-synchronous horizontal pendular nystagmus. We discuss the pathophysiology of this rare clinical sign.