Treatment of Meniere's Disease With Ultrasound: A Follow-Up Report on 117 Cases Using a New Ultrasound Apparatus With an Electronystagmographical Analysis of the Caloric Reaction

Abstract

Introduction THE CAPACITY of ultrasound to cure the vertigo in most cases of Meniere's disease is well documented in numerous reports. Improvement of vertigo has been reported in 72%-95% and diminution of tinnitus in 17%-60%.^1-8 In the majority of patients in most series of cases studied the hearing has been unchanged. Improved hearing has been reported by Altmann¹ in 12%, by Angell James³ in 23%, and by Arslan^5,6 in 30%-40%. Ariagno⁴ considers, however, that the hearing improvement is only an expression of the usual fluctuations of the disease. Of special interest are the reports on deteriorated hearing after irradiation; Altmann and Waltner,² for example, found 25%, Angell James et al³ 32%, and Lumsden⁷ 21%. Arslan⁶ reported hearing loss in 25%, but surprisingly enough considered this to be caused not by the ultrasound but by the chronic and progressive disease itself. Facial